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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon: Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as "Free time" and "At leisure" offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll become acquainted with our fellow participants during our welcome dinner with a glass of wine, soft drinks, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 59 miles (75 km), approximately 2 hours throughout the day. Walking up to 2 miles, standing at field trip sites; cobblestones, many steps inside monastery, staircases without railings, no elevator.
Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have a buffet featuring a selection of bread and pastries, cereal, yogurt, fruit, and cold cuts, plus coffee, tea, juice, water
Morning: We will start the morning driving to a tile factory to learn everything about the process of making homemade tiles. Then ride on to Mafra in the Lisbon countryside.With our Group Leader, we will visit and explore the Palacio de Mafra, an architectural project designed to be a convent, palace, and basilica. This building houses one of the most important libraries in Europe, as it boasts a large diversity of thematic collections from the 15th to 18th centuries representing different fields of knowledge.
Lunch: We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon: We will return to Cascais after lunch. Arriving to the hotel we will be joined by a historian who will give us a presentation on the history of Portugal and its people. Portugal was among the earliest of global empires in what is known as the Age of Discoveries thanks to its navigators and explorers. The empire lasted in some form for almost 600 years until Portugal ceded Macau to China in 1999. Though a little more than 10 million people call Portugal home today, Portuguese is the sixth most natively spoken language around the world due to past colonization, especially in Brazil.
Dinner: On your own to explore local cuisine.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motor coach; driving about 34 miles (53 km). Some steep slopes, many steps at Sintra Palace, no handrails.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: A historian will join us at the hotel for a lecture on contemporary Portugal, the Salazar regime, and the activities of spies and refugees in Lisbon, Cascais, and Estoril during World War II. We’ll then depart by motorcoach along the coast with a stop at Guincho to see Cape Roca, the westernmost point of Europe. In Sintra´s town center we will explore its narrow streets and later learn how to prepare portuguese foods.
Lunch: At the workshop, we’ll have the meal we helped prepare
Afternoon: In the afternoon, we will explore the "Palacio Nacional da ViIa." The main building dates from the 14th century, while the wings were added in the 16th century. The interior contains remarkable decorations, including 16th and 17th century tiles. Sintra and its palaces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the palace we will ride back to the hotel
Dinner: On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 43 miles (70 km), approximately 1.5 hours throughout the day. Walking up to 1 mile in the morning and standing at field trip sites. Walking up to 2 miles in the afternoon.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Drive to Belém. This district to the southwest of Lisbon was originally the shipyard and dock area and the embarkation point for voyages in the 15th century that led to so many discoveries. The great wealth derived from Portuguese colonies supported the construction of exceptional edifices we see today. Our exploration of the Belem area, starts at the Monument to the Navigators to learn about Henry the Navigator. From there, we admire the tower of Belém and set out on an expert-led walking field trip featuring the Jeronimos Church and the Coaches Museum. At the church, we’ll learn more about Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Explorers Vasco de Gama and Luis de Camoes are both entombed in Jeronimos. The Museu Nacional dos Coches — National Coach Museum — preserves one of the finest collections in Europe of royal coaches built during the Baroque period. We’ll learn about these magnificent vehicles, the artisans who made them, and the distinguished riders they served. After the field trip, we will walk to the Navy Museum for lunch.
Lunch: In the canteen of the Navy Museum.
Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll head out in the motorcoach on a panoramic drive through Lisbon. We’ll learn about the aftermath of the massive 1755 earthquake and how the city evolved as we observe the characteristics of different areas. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; some cobblestones in Cascais; walking and standing in museum. 45 minutes drive between Cascais and Lisbon.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Enjoy this free morning to see and do what interests you most in Cascais or in Lisbon. Public transportation is available between Cascais and Lisbon.
Lunch: On your own to have the local cuisine of your choice
Afternoon: Join the coach in Cascais or meet the group in Lisbon to visit the — Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation — founded in 1956 as a bequest from the eponymous British-Armenian philanthropist who lived in Portugal from 1942 until his death in 1955. Its purpose is to improve the quality of life through art, charity, science, and education. The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian holds one of the most important international private art collections that we’ll learn about as your expert leader leads our exploration. Later, we will walk through the old Alfama and go to a fado restaurant for dinner.
Dinner: At a Fado restaurant. As we dine, we’ll experience a performance of Fado, recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This multicultural synthesis of music, poetry, and dance is usually performed by a singer with guitars and sometimes other instruments.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles (80 km), approximately 1.5 hours each way.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Board a motorcoach and ride into the rural countryside to Companhia das Lezírias, a traditional Portuguese farmstead where olive and cork trees grow, wine is produced, and Lusitano thoroughbred horses are bred and raised. We’ll meet a local expert who will accompany us on a ride through the farm to observe and learn about everything grown here.
Lunch: At Companhia das Lezírias.
Afternoon: After lunch drive back to Cascais across the 25 April bridge. We’ll have time to relax at the hotel or to enjoy some time in the town center of Cascais. Later, in the hotel lounge, our Group Leader will lead a wrap-up session to review program highlights and say farewell to new Road Scholar friends.
Dinner: We will rendezvous at the hotel and share favourite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our dinner.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon. Airport transfers beginning at approximately 4:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.
Breakfast: At the hotel, flight times permitting. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!