Private tours in Lisbon & surroundings
|
|
|
|
|
Program
Estoril coast - the "sunny coast" where the sun shines 300 days per year. Drive close by the largest beach of Carcavelos and
the rocky stretch of Sao Joao and Sao Pedro of Estoril with aristocratic palaces, manor houses and deluxe villas.
Cosmopolitan Estoril with a stop at the biggest casino in Europe, its gardens and esplanades.
Cascais bay and ancient fishing port, stop of many navigators in the past, like Columbus and Vasco da Gama. See the typical
fishing boats unloading the catch and a magnificent panorama of the coastline.
Continue by the seaside with rocky and sandy beaches and the picturesque cliff - the Mouth of Hell.
Guincho, the wind surfer beach and Cabo da Roca - the westernmost point of continental Europe - stop for a marvellous view
of the ocean and seashore at 140 meters high.
Drive across the luxuriant Sintra Mountain and its gardens by twisted roads surrounded by a huge variety of vegetation -
"The Glorious Eden", "The Garden of Paradise". Admire the noble houses - each one in a different style, matching the variety
and originality of the vegetation.
Stop in the medieval Sintra town, with free time to see the most ancient royal palace in Portugal, the narrow streets with local
handicraft shops, the typical local pastry like queijadas and travesseiros, the wine shops, the gardens.
Cross the bridge “25 Abril” over Tagus river, and have a superb view of Lisbon. Visit the XII century Castle of Sesimbra and
admire the beautiful view of the ocean, Sesimbra beach and scenery of this fishing town. Sightseeing of Sesimbra, seaside with
crystal clear water and where we can have a glimpse of the fishing port, to see fishermen unloading the catch.
|
|
|
Azeitão - famous for its wine cellar, where we can stop for a guided visit to this antique muscatel wine producer and wine tasting.
Arrabida mountain - a unique nature reserve providing a breathtaking panoramic view, on the highest cliffs of the Portuguese coast, over Lisbon, Setubal,
Troia and the ocean. Stop at Setubal, an important fishing harbour, where once again we can admire the typical Portuguese fishing boats. Travel back to
Lisbon by Vasco da Gama bridge, 12 km long, for another unforgettable view of Lisbon and one of the widest estuaries in the world.
|
| |
|
|
... 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”…
|
|
| |
...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 a cosmopolitan town...
|
|
|
| |
|
|
...The forest-clad, elongated hummock of the Serra da Arrábida is a veritable oasis of natural vegetation amid
the suburban sprawl of the Setúbal peninsula, with an incredibly diverse wildlife to match. Along the shore of the
Sado estuary, its sheer flanks drop sharply into a turquoise sea, the pale limestone cliffs eaten away at the base to
form small sandy coves. Although the 50km-long ridge of the Arrábida attains a maximum of only 501m (Alto do
Formosinho), the views from the top are truly spectacular, giving the impression of much greater altitude. More
than 1,000 species of vascular plants have been recorded from the Arrábida natural park. Situated to the south
of the peninsula is the hub Setubal, actually Portugal's third largest port after Lisbon and Porto. Renowned for
both its fishing and fish restaurants and its many historic buildings and museums, Setubal makes a superb
Portugal holiday base or indeed a day trip. To the west of Setubal centre are stunning beaches backed on by the
Arrabida Natural Park. To the south is the natural reserve of the Sado estuary, home to numerous birds and
wildlife including bottle-nosed Dolphins...
|
|
|
|
