Private tours in Lisbon & surroundings
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Setubal, Evora, Vila Viçosa, Estremoz - full day
Personalized booking
Program
Cross the bridge “25 Abril” over Tagus river, and have a superb view of Lisbon. Stop at Setubal, an important fishing
harbour, where once again we can admire the typical Portuguese fishing boats. Drive across the largest cork region in the
world for an exciting journey into the past.
In Evora, capital of Alentejo, called the “town museum”, stop at Saint Francis church where you can see the “chapel of
the bones”, made with thousands of human skeletons. A walk along its streets will help you enjoy this typical town
considered World Heritage by UNESCO, with narrow streets decorated with manors, white washed houses and antique
palaces and churches. Stop at the Diana Temple, the best well preserved Roman temple in Portugal and time to see the
Romanesque Gothic Cathedral, the biggest in Portugal. Not far, the centenary University, where you can mingle with
students and admire this superb XVI century building.
Proceed to Vila Viçosa, inhabited by the Romans, Visigoths and Moors. In the early 14th century, King Dinis I built a
castle in the village and in 1502 began the building of the Ducal Palace, remodelled between the 16th and 17th centuries in
a sober late Renaissance style. Free time to see the palace.
On the way back to Lisbon, we stop at Estremoz. The region has been inhabited since pre-historic times. King Dinis
rebuilt the castle as a Royal Palace, turning the village into an important political centre. Estremoz is internationally
known for its fine to medium-grained marble that occurs in several colours. There is so much marble around Estremoz that
it is used everywhere; even the doorsteps, pavements and the cobble stones are made out of marble.
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...With a beautifully untouched provincial atmosphere, fascinating whitewashed old town, Evora has been a cultural oasis for 2,000
years. Part of the town is enclosed by ancient walls and has been preserved in its original state, as well as its monuments dating from
various historical periods. It was known by the Romans and vestiges from this period still remain. Évora was wrested from the moors
by a Christian Knight and flourished as one of the most dynamic cities in the Kingdom of Portugal during Middle Ages. The court was
resident here for long spells and Évora became the scene where many important decisions were made. During the XIV, XV and XVI
centuries, it was formerly a major center for the humanities. The university was founded in 1551, and it was here that great European
Masters passed on their knowledge. The many monuments erected by the major artists of each period now testify to Évora's lively
cultural, artistic and historical past. The variety of architectural styles (roman, gothic, manueline, mannerist, baroque), the palaces
and even the squares and narrow streets are all part of the rich heritage of this museum-city...
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