Private tours in Lisbon & surroundings
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Program
Lisbon, the millenarian city of the seven hills, with unique views from the top of them, like in Edward VII park. Cross the
famous Marquis of Pombal square and go down the hill by the XVIII century boulevard of Liberty avenue to Restauradores
square and Rossio, the heart of Lisbon, which has been the shopping district for more than 2000 years. The majestic Commerce
square, in front of the extraordinary estuary of Tagus river and close by the nucleus of ancient Lisbon. Then, we go along the
riverside by the busy harbor, with its discos and restaurants, cruise ship docks. On the way to Belem quarter, drive by the
official residence of the President and stop at Jeronimos Monastery – the most imposing monument of Lisbon, telling about the
apogee of Lisbon’s history, the age of adventurers and navigators of the XVI century.
Proceed to Estoril coast - the "sunny coast" where the sun shines 300 days per year. Cosmopolitan Estoril with the biggest
casino in Europe and its gardens (pass by). Cascais bay and ancient fishing port, stop of many navigators in the past. Free time
for photos. Drive across the luxuriant Sintra Mountain - "The Glorious Eden", "The Garden of Paradise". Stop in the medieval
Sintra town - free time.
Travel northwards and arrive at the beautiful and very ancient walled town called Obidos - medieval city surrounded by the
castle with picturesque narrow streets, whitewashed houses, iron balconies, flower pots in every window. Inhabited by Romans
and Arabs, this was the dwelling place of the Portuguese court for more than 500 years.
Proceed to Batalha Monastery, a XIV century masterpiece in Gothic style. Here you can admire the highest church in Portugal.
Finally Fatima - the Center of Christian faith and a local of world's pilgrimage. See the chapel where Our Lady appeared to the
shepherds, the Basilica and the vast square where people crawl on their knees towards the heart of the shrine, in a impressive
sign of faith and devotion, lightning a candle, praying and making a vow to Our Lady or fulfilling a promise. Religious services
can be attended.
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...Lisbon’s history dates back to 300,000 years ago and ranks as one of the world's longest founded cities. As the legend
tells, it is a city founded and named by Ulysses, which has its origins in the Phoenician words "Allis Ubbo", meaning
"enchanting port". Lisbon was a battlefield for Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians, however it was Romans who
started their two-century reign in Lisbon in 205 BC. In 714, the Moors arrived and stayed till the 12th century. In the 13th
century, Lisbon became the capital of Portugal. The 15th century was the point of departure for the Portuguese
Discoveries, an era during which Portugal enjoyed abundant wealth and prosperity through its newly discovered off shore
colonies in Africa, the Americas and Asia. Today, Lisbon still maintaining the marks of its early history, is one of the most
beautiful capitals of Europe...
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...One of the most beautiful parts of the Estoril Coast is a succession of hills dotted with pine trees and houses, sweeping down to
the sea and the local villages with their typical houses and the old palatial villas along the sea front. Villas from the Roman
period have been excavated and inscriptions found of family names, names of the Gods they worshipped and names chosen for
their sons. Cascais became a lookout for Lisbon in the great maritime era of discovering new worlds. It was the first place the
navigators saw when they returned from long and adventurous voyages seeking their homeland. It was in Cascais during the
latter part of the XIX century, that the Royal Family first began to bathe. It was a custom which was becoming popular in Europe
and Cascais was an ideal place owing to its mild climate. Over the years, many important families have made Cascais into
acosmopolitan town...
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... Described by Lord Byron as “Glorious Eden,” Sintra’s charms have long been celebrated. Once the summer residence
of the kings and Moorish lords, today Sintra is a romantic getaway for people from all around the world. Inhabited since
the pre-history period and by Celts and the Romans who called this area “The Mountain of the Moon”. In the 8th to 9th
century, Muslims built a castle here. During Medieval times, the Portuguese royal family, overflowing with the pomp and
riches from their colonial triumphs abroad, first came here to escape the heat (and stench) of the summer in Lisbon.
Beginning in the 14th century, the Portuguese aristocrats followed the royals to Sintra, a dwelling place for hunting and
relaxing. Stormy and mysterious, the mountain is covered by more than 1000 different species of plants. Several artists
from different countries came here to work, inspired in the beauty of this place, extolling its beauty: “The Garden of
Paradise”, “Garden of Europe”, “Glorious Eden”…
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...Perched on a hill rising out of an agricultural plain, Óbidos is one of Portugal’s picturesque gems. From its lofty centre one
gazes upon expanses of vineyards speckled with whirling windmills and terracotta-roofed homesteads. Nearer, narrow cobbled
streets, lined typically with whitewashed, bougainvillaea-draped houses, wind up to the walled interior. The region was the
westernmost limit of the Roman Empire. Under Portuguese rule, Obidos flourished into a major trading port. Every Portuguese
queen was given Obidos as a wedding present. Obidos continues to be a popular destination during the summer, when tourists
jam the streets to explore the city’s medieval charm....
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...In the XIV century, king Ferdinand died without a male heir to the throne; this originated the most significant civil war in
Portugal, involving England and Spain. The winner, king John I, ordered the construction of this Monastery in homage to
his victory and to be his Royal Pantheon. In fact, he started also what would become known as the “Magnificent
Generation”, those Monarchs who gave the impulse and consolidated the gigantic Portuguese Empire. The Monastery
was to be the Portuguese monarchy's main building project for the next two centuries. Here a highly original, national
Gothic style evolved, profoundly influenced by Manueline art...
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...The Catholic Church regards the three parts of the Fatima Secret and the total Fatima message to be important and of great
value to the spiritual lives of its people. It consists only of prophecies about the new condition of the Church in the world....
Fatima and its Secret do present us with something deeply serious, for they bring us face to face with the mysteries of eternal life.
Fatima is undoubtedly the most prophetic of modern apparitions. Faith and prayer are forces which can influence history and
that in the end prayer is more powerful than bullets and faith more powerful than armies...
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