Private tours in Lisbon & surroundings
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Program
We go down the hill by the XVIII century boulevard of Liberty avenue to Restauradores square and Rossio, the heart of Lisbon,
the majestic Commerce square, in front of the extraordinary estuary of Tagus river and close by the nucleus of ancient Lisbon.
Drive through the old quarter of Alfama: stop at saint Anthony of Padua church, built on the place where Saitn Anthony of
Padua was born, the very antique XII century Cathedral of Lisbon, saint Vincent Monastery and saint Engracia church, Estrela
basilica - marvelous marble construction with an outstanding dome. We'll cross 25 Abril bridge to go to the statue of Christ (stop
and free time to visit the chapel). Then, we go to Jeronimos Monastery – the most imposing church of Lisbon.
We continue to Alcobaça. Free time to visit the XII century Alcobaca Monastery. It has the longest church in Portugal, an
amazing construction which resisted time and earthquakes and where you can see how Cistercian monks used to live. See also the
tombs of king Peter and Ines, the 2 lovers of the most dramatic Portuguese love story. The cloisters are worthwhile a stopover:
wander around the garden, kitchen, cellar, refectory, chapter house, dormitory, Kings’ hall of this centenary dwelling place of
friars.
Proceed to Batalha Monastery. Here you can admire the highest church in Portugal and this antique and simbolic Monastery: the
Royal Pantheon of the Portuguese “Conquerors of the Sea” – the so-called “Magnificent generation”, the beautiful manueline
cloister, the chapter house with the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Unfinished Chapels.
Tour continues to Fatima: visit the Sanctuary and the Basilica – with the tombstones of the shepherds and the Chapel of
Apparitions - heart of the shrine – where Our Lady appeared to Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco. In the Chapel of the Apparitions,
in the Basilica or in the new church you can attend mass and confess. Near the Chapel you can light a candle and make a vow to
Our Lady. Leading to the Chapel, there's a marble passage crossed by pilgrims on their knees to ask physical and spiritual heal or
fulfil a promise. In front of the Chapel there's a water source.
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Aljustrel - visit the humble houses where the 3 shepheards, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco were born and lived. In the Ethnographic Regional Centre, next to
Lucía's house, are a lot of articles like letters of Lucia, furniture of the shepherds houses, pictures connected with the miracles, clothes, etc.
Valinhos - see the place where Our Lady of Fatima appeared for the 4th time in August 19th, 1917.
Loca do Anjo - visit the place where the children saw the apparition of the Angel for the first and third time.Via Crucis - 14 small chapels in memory of
Jesus' passion.
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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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...The city of Alcobaça became notable after the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, decided to build there a Monastery to
celebrate the conquest of Santarém. It’s one of the most magnificent gothic monuments in the country and was the first Gothic
building in Portugal, started in the 12th century. Over the centuries this monastery had an important role on Portuguese culture.
The Cistecian monks in Alcobaça dedicated their lives to meditation, working and teaching. They created the first public school in
Portugal, which was begun in 1269, and the use of the land for farming purposes, providing a genuine agricultural training
ground, the fruits of which are still visible today...
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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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