Lisbon

• Thursday 13 June 2024 - arrival day. Performing Arts Review Travel participants arrive throughout the day and transfer individually by underground, Aerobus or taxi (not included in land package) from Lisbon International Airport or train/bus stations to Hotel Roma.

• Friday 14 June 2024 - full day in Lisbon. Orientation breakfast at the hotel with our English speaking tour guide will be followed by a visit to the “Baixa” (downtown) heart of the city. Almost completely destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami of 1755, it was later rebuilt by Marquis de Pombal, who designed a uniform, rectilinear architecture for the city center, and whose statue dominates Parque Eduardo VII in the heart of downtown. We will walk through Alfama, one of the oldest quarters of the city, observing its architecture as well as the sounds and smells of old Lisbon. Adjoining the Alfama district are the old quarters of Mouraria and Castelo, where we will visit the Castelo de São Jorge, one of the most emblematic Crusader monuments of Lisbon, situated on the city’s highest hill. The castle was built in the 10th and 11th centuries, when Lisbon was an important Moorish port. In 1147, the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, conquered both the castle and the city from the Moors. Our walk will continue to Chiado an elegant trading area these days, but once a famous meeting place for intellectuals such as Fernando Pessoa, Almada Negreiros and Eça de Queiroz at the end of the 19th century.

  After lunch at Cervejaria Trindade in the city center, we’ll continue to the Carmo and Chiado districts, which have some of the most fascinating historical sites in the city, including the Convent and Church of Carmo and Largo do Carmo which was the site of important events in the 1974 revolution. We will visit the Basilica Nossa Senhora dos Mártires where we may gain permission to play the pipe organ built in 1791 by António Xavier Machado e Cerveira, considered one of the most remarkable of several Portuguese Baroque organ builders. We will continue to S. Pedro de Alcantara. This 'miradouro' in Portuguese is located at the top of the Glória funicular route close to one of the many entrances to Bairro Alto. From here, we will be able to see magnificent views of Lisbon, especially St. George's Castle and the Graça area. We will enjoy our welcome dinner together at the fascinating Restaurant Museu da Cerveja, with its fascinating Portuguese beer museum, overlooking the historic Tagus River, the longest on the Iberian Peninsula, which empties into the Atlantic at Lisbon.

• Saturday 15 June 2024 - a half day in Belém. We will enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then travel by coach with our English-speaking tour guide along the Tagus River bank to the Belém district of Lisbon, to enjoy the Manueline architecture of Portugal’s age of empire and exploration, and visit the Jerónimos Monastery, Navy Museum, Carriage Museum and on the banks of the Tagus, the iconic Tower of Belém with its Monument of Discoveries. To top off the day, we will make a stop at the famous Pastéis de Belém, the old bakery "Confeitaria Belém Antiga" which has been in business since 1837. Their secret formula for these delicious pastries is still kept in a locked place. Afterwards, we will travel by coach to the heart of Lisbon's urban life, Rossio Square. Like attending the theater, if you sit down for a glass of wine and a light bite in one of the numerous street cafes in the square, you are in the front row of a world stage. The rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.

• Sunday 16 June 2024 - a free day to explore Lisbon and enjoy the parades, music, food and fun of the Sardine Festival holiday. After breakfast at the hotel the day is free. Today is a holiday in Lisbon, many monuments and businesses are closed, but street celebrations, neighborhood food stalls, Fado clubs, and restaurants make for a happy mélange of activity. Enjoy a walk through the city and breathe the celebratory atmosphere that is lived here year round, but particularly during this special holiday festival. People from every neighborhood parade down Avenida da Liberdade, filling this major boulevard with colorful characters in costume, Portuguese folk music ensembles, and throngs of spectators spilling into the narrow back streets, particularly in Alfama, but also Graça, Bica, Mouraria and Madragoa. In the Mediaeval squares and alleyways, people eat cabbage soup and grilled sardines, singing and dancing the whole nightlong. Another highlight is the Procession of St. Anthony, which leaves from the Church of Santo António in Alfama, near the Cathedral where the saint was born in 1193. Overnight at the hotel in Lisbon.

• Monday 17 June 2024 - a free day to recuperate from Sunday’s Sardine Festival and do some independent exploration of the city before we gather for dinner together on the rooftop of Restaurant Zambeze to share stories and enjoy the spectacular views of Lisbon. Overnight at the hotel in Lisbon.

Porto

• Tuesday 18 June 2024 - travel by minibus to Porto with a stop in Coimbra, Portugal’s first royal capital. After breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon we depart by minibus with our Portuguese-speaking tour guide for Lisbon’s second largest city Porto, with a side trip to the historic university city of Coimbra, where we will have time to explore the town, including it’s statue dedicated to the city’s unique version of Fado. We will enjoy lunch at Restaurant O Trovador where we will be serenaded by some of the city’s finest Fado musicians. Later, we will visit the Church and Monastery of Santa Cruz, one of the most beautiful buildings in the country, where we will have a close look at its stunning Baroque organ. We will visit Casa da Guitarra to see the vast array of traditional Portuguese guitars archived there, and explore the splendid and historic library and auditorium at the University of Coimbra. From the university terrace, we will have a magnificent view of the city and the Mondego River Valley, before continuing to Porto. We will check in at Hotel Black Tulip in Porto and have dinner at the hotel together before calling it a day.

• Wednesday 19 June 2024 - full day in Porto. After breakfast at the hotel, we will enjoy a walking tour of the ancient city, taking the tram to the historic center with our English-speaking tour guide. During our walk, we will experience the narrow Medieval streets of this UNESCO World Heritage City on the Douro River first hand, and discover not only the classic highlights of the metropolis, but also its hidden beauties. At noon, we will hear the Baroque pipe organ at the Clérigos Church with its magnificent Baroque tower. We will have the opportunity to chat with the organist who might allow one or two qualified participants to briefly play the instrument. We will enjoy lunch afterward at Restaurant Chez Lapin in the oldest Ribeira District, close to the river Douro. After taking the subway back to our hotel, some participants may enjoy taking advantage of a ticket discount for a 4pm performance at Porto’s Casa da Música. The evening will be free. Overnight at the hotel in Porto.

• Thursday 20 June 2024 - full-day trip and cruise of the Douro River Valley. After breakfast at the hotel in Porto, we start a day trip to the Douro River Valley with our English-speaking tour guide. We will enjoy lunch at the Quinta da Avessada Winery with typical food and wines from this area, followed in mid-afternoon by a two hour cruise on the Douro River between the villages of Pinhão and Tua. We will stop for dinner in the charming and sun-soaked town of Peso da Régua, before returning to Porto. Overnight at hotel in Porto.

• Friday 21 June 2024 - day trip to Guimarães and Braga. After breakfast at the hotel in Porto we will travel by minibus to visit the historic city of Guimarães, which is also known as the cradle of Portugal and holds a special place in Portuguese hearts. It was here, from the castle’s high walls that Alfonso Henriques (King Alfonso I) defeated the armies of his mother Theresa Countess of Portugal in 1128 and became the first King of Portugal. We will visit the historic center of the city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptionally well-preserved buildings. We will visit the Duke’s Palace (Palácio dos Duques) and the Castle São Mamede. We will stop in at the Olveira do Castelo Church to see an amazing pipe organ from the first half of the 19th century (1831-1841), the last expression of the Galician-Portuguese current of the Iberian organaria. We’ve asked for permission for some in our group to play the instrument. Afterwards, we will have a walk through the Medieval streets. In the afternoon, we will continue towards Braga, an important religious center of the 6th century CE, where we will have lunch at Restaurant Cozinha da Sé. We will visit the imposing Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Braga where those seeking their exercise for the day, can climb the stairway which leads to the impressive sanctuary - 17 levels of steps, adorned with symbolic fountains, allegoric statues, and other decorations in Baroque style. At the top, a breathtaking panoramic view of the city of Braga before returning to Porto. Overnight at hotel in Porto.

Lisbon

• Saturday 22 June 2024 - Return by minibus from Porto to Lisbon with stops in Fátima and Mafra. After breakfast at our hotel in Porto, we will leave this unforgettably beautiful and historic city for our return journey by to Lisbon. Our first stop will be Fátima for a short sightseeing tour of one of Europe’s most important religious sites. We will see the pilgrimage chapel and the Basilica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, with a chance to see, perhaps play, the amazing pipe organ there, built in 1951 by the Italian company Fratelli Ruffatti. It is the largest instrument of its kind in Portugal, with 90 registers and around 6,500 pipes. We will continue to Mafra to tour the former royal monastery and palace. A building of superlatives - the largest palace and monastery complex in Portugal.

  The historic organs of the Basilica of the Mafra Palace are a set of six pipe organs, unique in the world, designed and built at the same time, to play together (dated from 1806 and 1807). The request is in, for permission get personal with these organs. We will have lunch in Fátima before continuing to Lisbon, we will stay at our familiar home, Hotel Roma.

• Sunday 23 June 2024 - Full day in Sintra. After breakfast at our hotel in Lisbon, we will take the train for a day-long visit to the fairy tale palaces and gardens of Sintra. Enjoying a light lunch at Restaurant Taverna dos Trovadores, we will take the tourist train to visit Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors. A visit to São Martinho Church in Sintra to have a look and listen to its pipe organ, will cap the day. We will return to Lisbon for our farewell dinner at a typical Fado dinner club, Adega do Machado.
  

• Monday 24 June 2024 - departure day. After breakfast at the hotel participants transfer from the hotel to the airport/train by taxi or Metro (not included in land package).

June in Lisbon

Castle São Jorge overlooking Lisbon

Navy Museum in Lisbon

Liberdade Square in Porto

The Casa da Música in Porto

The clock is ticking even now toward summer 2023. The total land package cost per participant for this trip is US $3,450/€ 3,443 double occupancy. Make your deposit of US $180/€ 181* per participant early to secure your hotel room (double occupancy), meals, train, tram, minibus and river cruise reservations. I can take 14 participants, double-occupancy. June is Festival month throughout Portugal and hotel accommodation must be secured well in advance. The remainder of your total land package cost after your deposit is US $3,270/€ 3,263* due by midnight Pacific, FRIDAY 22 March 2024. You may cancel your trip in writing any time before midnight Pacific, FRIDAY 22 March 2024 to receive a full refund. If you cancel your trip in writing after 24 March 2024 you will receive no refund. If Performing Arts Review Travel cancels the Portugal trip for any reason before 22 March 2024 all participants still booked for the trip will receive a full refund, including deposit. If you prefer a private room, your total land package cost will be (US $4,200/€4,190). Contact me to make private room arrangements: dankepl@gmail.com. Your payments are deposited directly into a secure Trust Account, audited by the California Attorney General's office.

*International exchange rates vary day to day

Lisbon Airport is one of the most modern in the world: a 2-terminal, 2-runway international airport with underground, train, and bus connections to the city center. Madrid is the closest international airport with regular high speed trains to Lisbon.  

lisbon

Hotel Roma

porto

Hotel Black Tulip