Private tours in Lisbon & surroundings
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Program
We leave Lisbon passing close by the mouth of the river, with several stretches of sandy beaches and the vibrant harbor.
Estoril – the worldwide famous seaside resort with a mild climate all year round. Drive along the coast by several beaches
like Carcavelos, close by Tagus river estuary and XVII century Saint Julian fortress, the most imposing of Lisbon. Next is
Parede, well-known spa with plenty of iodine. Continue to Sao Joao and Sao Pedro of Estoril with aristocratic palaces,
manor houses and deluxe villas, once the refuge of exiled kings and political refugees.
Cosmopolitan Estoril with a stop at the biggest casino in Europe with its gardens and esplanades.
Cascais bay and ancient fishing port, stop of many navigators in the past, like Columbus and Vasco da Gama. We get off
to see the typical fishing boats unloading the catch and a magnificent panorama of the coastline.
Drive across the luxuriant Sintra Mountain and its gardens by twisted roads bordered by a huge variety of vegetation.
Once called "The Glorious Eden", "The Garden of Paradise", where thousands of different species of plants bloom in the 4
seasons of the year. Admire the manor houses - each one in a different style, matching the variety and originality of the
vegetation.
Stop in the medieval Sintra town, with free time. Sintra was once the dwelling place of aristocracy, which built their
palaces surrounded by beautiful gardens in the narrow bent streets with handicraft and wine shops. Taste the typical local
pastry like queijadas and travesseiros.
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Go up to one of the highest peaks of the mountain through a narrow and crooked road crossing Sintra forest. It’s all roofed by centenary trees and a
beautiful variety of vegetation. Passing close to the mysterious VIII century Moorish castle, we make a stop with free time to visit Pena palace, the fairy
tale residence of romantic Royalty in Portugal, with breathtaking views.
On the way back to Lisbon, we pass by the XVIII century Queluz palace, “Portugal Versailles”, once the dwelling palace of Kings and now Presidents and
special guests.
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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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...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...
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