Tag: Portugal
Saturday, June 6, 2026 – Porto, Portugal
Where in the World Are We?
Today’s Schedule
Today’s Excursion – Savoring Proud Porto
This morning we’ll take a walking tour of Porto’s riverfront Ribeira district, including the lavish rooms of its Stock Exchange Palace, the exquisitely gilded Church of São Francisco, and São Bento train station. Then we’ll enjoy a peaceful cruise on the Douro River, floating under many of Porto’s majestic bridges. The afternoon and evening are all yours to wander through Porto’s lively city center — or seek out some sipping at a port-wine lodge.
Gilded Church of São Francisco
Porto’s riverfront Ribeira district
Stock Exchange Palace
Douro River cruise floating under many of Porto’s majestic bridges and seeing the sights on both sides of the river.
Travelling up the funicular and back to our hotel.
Farewell dinner
Friday, June 5, 2026 – Porto, Portugal
Where in the World Are We?
We are in Porto, Portugal, home to Portugal’s Port wine industry.
Today’s Escursion
Today’s Escursion – Vineyard Views and Porto
Today we traveled through terraced wine country on our way to the port city of Porto. Upon arrival in this rustic Portuguese San Francisco, we explored the city through our taste buds with a sampling of delicious local cuisine, which taught us about history, architecture, and culture along the way.
Later that evening we had dinner at the famous Majestic Cafe and then strolled around the neighborhood.
Thursday, June 4, 2026 – Douro Valley, Portugal.
Where in the World Are We?
We are in the Douro Valley in Portugal, home of the Port wine vineyards.
Today’s Scheduled Excursion
Douro Valley
After breakfast, we drove to Portugal’s most famous wine-making region: the lush, green Douro Valley.
We stopped at Quinta Santa Eufemia for a vineyard tour, port wine tasting, and lunch at a historic family estate and winery (quinta) with spectacular views.
Quinta de Santa Eufemia is one of the many unequaled repositories of history in the Douro Valley, the world’s oldest certified wine-making region, dating back to 1756.
The family served us an exceptional lunch inspired by the Douro Valley food traditions.
After lunch we broused around the property.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 – Coimbra, Portugal
Where in the World Are We?
We are in Coimbra, Portugal.
Today’s Schedule
Painted Tiles
We started the day learning about Coimbra’s treasured tradition of hand-painted tiles.
We were taken through the step-by-step process of making hand-painted ceramics. From mixing the clay dust, pouring the mixture into molds or pressing it in a press, to removing and cleaning the clay from the molds, to firing the ceramics in the oven, to painting the ceramics, to a second firing, and to quality control at each step of the process.
Old City
We took a local walking tour of Coimbra’s old city to see its narrow, colorful streets, buildings, and churches.
Coimbra Fado
We enjoyed a performance of the unique, local style of fado…more likely devoted to revolutionary student ideals than lost love.
Coimbra fado is a haunting, unique style of traditional Portuguese music which originates from nightly serenades by university students in the cobbled streets of Coimbra. Intricate guitar playing and passionate voices penetrate the hearts and souls of the audience even if they do not understand a word of Portuguese.
Afternoon Lunch and sightseeing.
The afternoon included lunch and exploring more of the old city.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 – Batalha, Fatima, & Coimbra, Portugal
Where in the World Are We?
We traveled to Brtalha, D=Fatima, and Coimbra, Portugal.
Today’s Excursion
Today, we continued our journey south, stopping in Batalha to visit its grand Monastery of Santa Maria, a symbol of Portuguese pride and its victory (with help from English archers) over Spanish domination 600 years ago.
Then we visited the nearby pilgrimage site of Fátima — a favorite of Pope John Paul II — where three children shared controversial visions of the Virgin Mary in 1917.
We continued our journey to Coimbra’s steeped-in-tradition, 700-year-old university, which features a palatial library that’s a bibliophile’s dream — with 30,000 books from the 18th century- and then to the Chamber of Curiosity.
Monday, June 1, 2026 – Tomar and Nazare, Portugal
Tomar, Portugal
Nazare, Portugal
Where in the World Are We?
We were in Tomar and Nazaré, Portugal.
Today’s Excursions – Tomar’s Medieval Mystique and Nazaré Seaside Treasure
We begin today with a tour of Tomar’s Castle of the Knights Templar and Convent of Christ. Built in the 12th century by the mysterious and powerful Knights Templar, the church is a stunning, Oz-like circle where knights would often go, on horseback, to be blessed before battle.
We enjoyed some fun in the sun in the old coastal fishing village of Nazaré.
Splash in the waters of the Atlantic, sample the local specialty — barnacles — or take the funicular up to the historic Sítio neighborhood to enjoy its sweeping cliff-top views.
The town square is festive; be sure to explore the side street leading to the lighthouse.
Get great photos of Nazare from this high viewpoint.
You do not need to go all the way down to get great photos of the lighthouse from a halfway cliffside viewpoint. Halfway down the street is a gateway advertising the greatest waves in the Atlantic.
Some of the greatest waves from previous photos.
We had lunch at Mr. Pizza in Nazare.
Scenes from Nazare.
We had a Rick Steves Group dinner in the Estalagem De Santa Iria hotel.
