Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Guincho, and Cascais

Park and National Palace of Pena - The magnificent Pena Palace is one of the finest examples of 19th-century romantic revivalism in Portugal.

Located on the Pena Hill, the Palace was built on the site of an old monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome. It was the brainchild of King Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who married Queen Maria II in 1836. Enchanted by Sintra, he decided to acquire the monastery and surrounding lands to construct the royal family’s summer palace.

The king consort adopted Portuguese architectural and decorative styles for the palace, in line with the revivalist taste (neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic, neo-Renaissance) and created a magnificent English-style park with a variety of exotic tree species.

Inside, still decorated in the style of the kings who lived there, the chapel stands out, featuring a magnificent alabaster marble altarpiece attributed to Nicolau Chanterenne (one of the architects of the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon). Also noteworthy are the trompe l’oeil murals and the tile coverings.

Sintra - Take time to stroll through the narrow streets of Sintra Village and enjoy its conventual pastries.

Next, there are two options to visit:

1 - National Palace;
2 - Quinta da Regaleira

Sintra National Palace - The millennial history of the Sintra National Palace begins during the Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. Already mentioned in the 11th century, the original Moorish palace - owned by the Portuguese Crown after the conquest of Lisbon by King Afonso Henriques (1147), the first King of Portugal - was first intervened in 1281, during the reign of King Dinis. New structures were added over time, under the reigns of King Dinis, King João I, and King Manuel I, maintaining its silhouette since the mid-16th century.

The arrangement of spaces in height, adapting to the terrain; the intimate organization of open-air interior courtyards, where the sound of running water can be heard; its windows with horseshoe arches; and the rich geometric patterned tile coverings, highlight the Moorish connection of the artisans who built and embellished the Palace.

Quinta da Regaleira - Quinta da Regaleira is one of the most surprising monuments in the Sintra Mountains. Located at the end of the historic center of the village, it was built between 1904 and 1910, during the last period of the monarchy.

The romantic domains once belonged to the Viscountess of Regaleira, were acquired and expanded by Dr. António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro (1848-1920) to establish his chosen place. Possessing a prodigious fortune, which earned him the nickname Monteiro dos Milhões, he associated his unique architectural and landscape project with the creative genius of the Italian architect and set designer Luigi Manini (1848-1936) as well as the mastery of sculptors, stonemasons, and carvers who had worked with him at the Palace Hotel of Buçaco.

A man of scientific spirit, vast culture, and rare sensitivity, a notable bibliophile, a discerning collector, and a great philanthropist, he left imprinted in this stone book the vision of a cosmology, a synthesis of the spiritual memory of humanity, whose roots delve into the Mythical Lusitanian and Universal Tradition. The architecture and art of the palace, chapel, and other constructions were scenically conceived in the context of an Edenic garden, highlighting the predominance of neo-Manueline and Renaissance styles.

The garden, a representation of the microcosm, is revealed by the succession of places imbued with magic and mystery. Paradise is materialized in coexistence with an inferius - a Dantesque underground world - to which the neophyte would be led by the thread of Ariadne of initiation.

These scenarios represent an initiatory journey, a true peregrinatio mundi, through a symbolic garden where one can feel the Harmony of the Spheres and scrutinize the alignment of an ascension of consciousness that travels through great epics. References to mythology, Olympus, Virgil, Dante, Camões, the Templar mission of the Order of Christ, great mystics and thaumaturges, the enigmas of the Royal Art, the Great Alchemical Work are glimpsed. In this symphony of stone, the poetic and prophetic dimension of a Lusitanian Philosophical Mansion is revealed. Here, Heaven and Earth merge into a sensitive reality, the same that presided over the theory of Beauty, Architecture, and Music, which the acoustic shell of the Terrace of the Celestial Worlds allows to propagate to infinity.

Cabo da Roca - Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of the European Continent or, as Luís Vaz de Camões wrote, the place “Where the Land ends and the sea begins” (in Os Lusíadas, Canto VIII). A stone marker with a plaque highlights this geographical peculiarity to all who visit this location.
Cabo da Roca is also known as “Focinho da Roca” by those connected to the sea, and more poetically as “Promontory of the Moon.” It is part of the Sintra Cascais Natural Park, which encompasses a vast area of natural interest and scenic beauty that stretches from the Citadel of Cascais to the mouth of the Falcão River. From Cabo da Roca, it is possible to follow various eco-trails.
At Cabo da Roca, visitors are met with a spectacular landscape, an imposing lighthouse, and various infrastructures. It is also here that one of the rarest plant species, “armeria pseudoarmeria,” can be found.
Being located in an area with easy access and high tourist influx, numerous people visit it.

Guincho Beach - Near Cascais, the extensive sandy beach of Guincho is highly sought after by bathers during the summer season and throughout the year by surfers and windsurfers, for which this beach offers excellent conditions.

Along the road by the sea, numerous high-quality restaurants offer excellent dishes of fresh fish and seafood.

Cascais - Situated by the sea and traditionally a fishing village, Cascais experienced significant development in the 14th century when it was a bustling port of call for ships heading to Lisbon.

However, it was from the second half of the 19th century, when sea bathing began to be appreciated, that Cascais underwent a transformation that turned it into a fashionable summer resort. The main driver of this transformation was King Luís I of Portugal, who in 1870 converted the citadel fortress into the summer residence of the Portuguese monarchy. This example was followed by the nobility, who built mansions and beautiful villas here where they spent the hottest season of the year, completely transforming the former fishing village.

Cascais also began to attract curious visitors, whose access was facilitated by the inauguration of the railway line between Pedrouços and Cascais in 1889. Today, Cascais is a lively and cosmopolitan town that still retains its aristocratic air.

A stroll through its streets, which have excellent quality shops, or a moment of rest on one of the many terraces here is recommended. The beaches continue to be one of the main attractions, with a choice between those located in the sheltered bay of the town or those a little further away in the Guincho area (already part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park) that offer excellent conditions for surfing and windsurfing. The Boca do Inferno, a coastal indentation surrounded by steep rocks and caves, remains a natural curiosity that attracts many visitors to witness the power of the sea.

Highlighting the gastronomy, especially the fresh fish and seafood, which can be savored in the many restaurants in the region.

Estoril - A world-renowned resort, Estoril is a true cosmopolitan center with vibrant nightlife and all the necessary infrastructure for a major summer resort - beaches, excellent hotels, golf courses, a casino, and even a racetrack.

It was at the beginning of the 20th century that the planned transformation of this locality began, due not only to the proximity of the sea, which was becoming an attraction, but also because of the existence of thermal springs that were very fashionable at the time.

The center of this new luxury resort was the Park and the Casino (the ex-libris of Estoril), surrounded by arcaded buildings and excellent hotels.

Previously, Estoril was known for the various Forts along the coast that ensured the defense of one of the possible entrances to Lisbon and for the Retreat built by the Mendicant Order of Franciscan Friars in the 16th century, transformed into the Salesian College.

From 1930, Estoril became one of the main exponents of tourism in Portugal, having been the chosen place for the exile of many deposed European monarchs, among whom King Juan Carlos of Spain can be mentioned.

During World War II, it was a refuge for writers, politicians, artists, businessmen, and many Jews persecuted by the Third Reich.

Lisbon City Tour

Lisbon Cathedral - Dedicated to the Mother of God since 1147.

Dedicated to the Mother of God, the Lisbon Cathedral is one of the city’s landmarks and one of the country’s most significant monuments, for its historical, religious, and artistic value. Its construction began in 1147, when the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, reconquered the city from the Moors and was built over a Muslim mosque – which in turn, as archaeological excavations have confirmed, was built over a previous Visigothic Christian temple.

Although the city had been a bishopric since at least the 4th century, and continued to have a Christian bishop at the time of the Christian Reconquest in the 12th century, the English crusader Gilbert of Hastings was appointed to this function and the works were initiated under his responsibility. The first architect was Master Robert, a Frenchman of probable Norman origin, who also worked on the construction of the Coimbra Cathedral and the Monastery of Santa Cruz, in the same city. At the time, King Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, brought the relics of the martyr Saint Vincent of Saragossa from the Algarve and deposited them in the Cathedral.

The original building followed the Romanesque style canons, but between the 13th and 14th centuries, it underwent the first alterations. During the reign of King Dinis, the cloister was built, already in Gothic style. Later, King Afonso IV ordered the construction of the ambulatory, for his family pantheon, which made the Cathedral more suitable to receive pilgrims who came to see the relics of Saint Vincent. The ambulatory gives rise to ten chapels that take various titles, some of them linked to the Virgin: the Chapel of Our Lady of Penha de França, the Chapel of Saint Anne, the Chapel of Santa Maria Maior, and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, works were carried out in Baroque style, mainly at the decorative level in the altars and the main chapel. In the first half of the 20th century, the medieval character of the Cathedral was restored.

Inside, one should visit the chapel of Bartolomeu Joanes, an important bourgeois of medieval Lisbon, and the excavations of the cloister, which uncovered the successive occupations of this space. Although much of its former collection is preserved in museums (such as the Museum of Ancient Art), the Cathedral includes a visitable collection, designated as the Treasury of the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Castle of S. Jorge - Visit the exterior of the Castle, entrance is optional and not included

The Castle of São Jorge is one of Lisbon’s most emblematic monuments, situated on the highest hill in the city.

The oldest known fortification on the site dates from the 2nd century BC, although traces found here date from the 6th century BC. Archaeology has also uncovered traces of Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, and Muslims, proving constant human occupation since ancient times.

The castle itself was founded in the 10th and 11th centuries, when Lisbon was an important Muslim port city. In 1147, the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, conquered the castle and the city from the Moors. Between the 13th and 16th centuries, it had its most important period. In the 16th century, it was in the castle that King Manuel I received Vasco da Gama after his sea voyage to India and where the first Portuguese play, by Gil Vicente, was performed, on the occasion of the birth of King João III.

Declared a National Monument in 1910, it underwent major restoration works during the 20th century, giving it its current appearance. It is one of the city’s most important sites and a popular leisure space for the surrounding neighborhoods’ population. It can be said to have the best view of the city and the Tagus River.

Inside, the museum center stands out, where one can see the history of Lisbon, and the Tower of Ulysses. The legendary founder of the city gives his name to the castle’s former Tower of Tombo, where a periscope allows observing the city in 360º in real-time.

Alfama - Passing and stopping in the neighborhood where Fado was born

Baixa, Rossio & Restauradores - Reborn from the rubble of the 1755 earthquake, this beautiful Lisbon square marks the northern boundary of the Pombaline Downtown area. Its space develops in a broad quadrilateral, dominated by the harmonious neoclassicism of the D. Maria II Theatre, erected on the site where the Inquisition House once stood.

For the Marquis of Pombal, the Praça do Comércio had become the city’s chosen place and symbol of a new social order he intended for the Nation. However, over time, it was Rossio, a sunny and welcoming space, that gained the privilege of being the forum of Lisbon’s bourgeoisie. The square was enlivened with hotels (now disappeared) that filled with visitors, shops, and tobacconists. And there were, of course, numerous cafes, a very Portuguese institution where people conversed, conspired, discussed political matters, and debated the arts.

Life changed, and many cafes disappeared, but the Nicola Cafe (western side) and the Swiss Pastry Shop (eastern side) remained to bear witness to another time. In the center, a 28-meter-high column, placed here in 1870, supports the statue of King Pedro IV, who holds the Constitutional Charter in his right hand. In 1889, two monumental fountains were added, one on each side of the column, where friendly flower sellers sell flowers.

To the south of the square, notice a graceful arch that connects with Rua dos Sapateiros. It is a beautiful piece of late 18th-century Pombaline architecture, with ornamental motifs where a beautiful large window with a balcony overlooking the Square stands out. The capitalist Pires Bandeira paid for its construction, and it became known to posterity as the Bandeira Arch.

Recently, the original splendor of the Portuguese pavement was restored to Rossio, and the central area’s floor is covered with small blue and white stones that draw the waves of the sea.

Eduardo VII Park - Located at the top of Avenida da Liberdade, it offers an excellent panoramic view of the city. Initially named Liberty Park, it was renamed after the King of England during his visit to Lisbon in 1903. Since its origin, this park has been the stage for fairs, exhibitions, and entertainment.

Its structure, with a central strip covered with grass, flanked by a Portuguese pavement walkway, is the work of architect Keil do Amaral, constituting an important milestone in the city’s urban evolution.

Here we find the Sports Pavilion, built in 1932 in D. João V style, now called the Carlos Lopes Pavilion in honor of the great Portuguese athlete, the Cold Greenhouse, with a huge variety of plants from all over the world, lakes, a set of statues among which the bust of Edward VII of England and the sculpture commemorating the 25th of April by João Cutileiro stand out.

The park includes a children’s playground, a picnic area next to the Pavilion, and the Club VII, with a tennis court, gym, swimming pool, and restaurant.

Jerónimos Monastery - By the Tagus, the pinnacle of Manueline architecture.

On the site where the Jerónimos Monastery now stands, next to the former beach of Belém, there was originally a small hermitage dedicated to Santa Maria, built by Prince Henry in 1452. In the early 16th century, King Manuel I saw his intention to erect a large monastery there recognized by the Holy See, which was donated to the Order of Saint Jerome Friars. A pinnacle of Manueline architecture and intrinsically linked to the Discoveries’ epic, this monastery is the most notable Portuguese monastic complex of its time and one of the main hall churches in Europe.

Construction began in 1501, lasted for a hundred years, and was directed by a remarkable group of national and foreign architects and master builders. With the initial design by the Frenchman Boytac, the work was continued by other Masters, namely João de Castilho and, already in the mid-century, Diogo de Torralva. After the Portuguese reached India, the Portuguese crown was able to fund the enterprise with revenues from trade with the East. King Manuel I channeled a significant portion of the so-called “Pepper Tax” (approximately 5% of revenues from trade with Africa and the East, equivalent to 70kg of gold per year) to fund the construction work.

In this monument, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the facades, the Church, and the cloisters deserve immediate attention. On the south facade, one can admire the portal carved by João de Castilho, where the figures are arranged according to a specific hierarchy: below, Prince Henry guards the entrance, in the middle, the Virgin of Belém blesses the monument, and the Archangel Saint Gabriel, the protector of Portugal, crowns the arch. The western portal, through which one enters the sacred space, is by Nicolau Chanterenne. On the left, protected by Saint Jerome, is the statue of King Manuel, said to be a faithful portrait, and on the right, that of Queen Maria, his wife, protected by Saint John the Baptist.

Inside, there is the hall church, a masterpiece of Manueline architecture, by João de Castilho. Note how, in a daring architectural feat, the beautiful vault of the transept is not supported by any column. At the entrance, after the lower choir, are the cenotaphs of the poet Luís de Camões, author of the epic poem “Os Lusíadas,” and Vasco da Gama, commander of the fleet that in 1497 sailed to India. In the side chapels, the kings, princes, and infantes descendants of King Manuel I are buried. In the main chapel, later reconstructed by Jerónimo de Ruão, are the tombs of King Manuel I, his son King João III, and their wives. Special mention should be made of the solid silver tabernacle, a work of Portuguese goldsmithing from the mid-17th century.

Belem Tower - The harmony and delicate ornaments of the Belém Tower suggest, to the eyes of those who see it, a crafted jewel. However, the vision of its contemporaries was different: a formidable and fearsome bastion defending the river’s entrance, crossing fire with the opposite tower of São Sebastião, on the other bank. Commissioned by King Manuel I (1495-1521), it was built by Francisco de Arruda, between 1514 and 1521, on a basalt islet located near the right bank of the Tagus, opposite the Restelo beach. However, with the progressive shift of the river’s course over the years, the Tower ended up being practically “tied” to the bank.

It consists of a quadrangular tower reminiscent of medieval castles and a polygonal bastion, a defensive element intended to support heavy artillery, with bombards skimming the sea. The turrets with ribbed domes, rising at each corner, denote the influence of Moroccan fortifications. Alongside these oriental elements, Manueline decoration predominates in the stone cordage that surrounds it, in the heraldic motifs, and even in the famous rhinoceros, the first stone representation of this animal in Europe. The most decorative face of the Tower is the one facing south, where the balcony runs. Above the cloister wall that rises on the bastion, a sculpted image of the Virgin with the Child from the 18th century stands out, “at the prow” of the tower.

The interior is worth visiting for the climb to the top floor, where the effort is rewarded by the admirable view over the wide estuary of the Tagus River and the western part of Lisbon, so evocative of Portugal’s history during the Age of Discoveries.

In 1983, the Belém Tower was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos - In Lisbon, Belém is the neighborhood that commemorates the era of Discoveries and Portuguese maritime expansion. In the 15th and 16th centuries, caravels departed from here, and news of discoveries arrived here. King Manuel I then ordered the construction of the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower, symbols of Portugal’s 16th-century wealth and splendor. Classified as World Heritage Sites, they are masterpieces of the “Manueline” style, the Portuguese interpretation of late Gothic. In the former conventual dependencies of the monastery, we can find the National Archaeology Museum and the Maritime Museum, where you can learn a little more about the navigation techniques used by the Portuguese.

In the 18th century, King João V chose Belém for his residence, ordering the restoration of the Palace and the creation of a riding school. The Riding School was adapted into the National Coach Museum, and the “pink” palace became the official residence of the President of the Republic.

In 1940, on the occasion of the celebrations of the foundation of the nationality, Salazar’s government decided to hold the “Exhibition of the Portuguese World” here. For this purpose, the layout of Belém was reorganized, and the Praça Afonso de Albuquerque, in homage to the first viceroy of India, the Praça do Império, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, and the riverside leisure areas emerged.

The Church of Memory, the Chapel of Saint Jerome, the Tropical Agricultural Garden, the Belém Cultural Center, and the Ethnology Museum complete the museum complex of this neighborhood.

Today, there is no longer the port or the beach of the Discoveries here, but a pleasant leisure and cultural area where Lisbon residents enjoy strolling. A visit to Belém would not be complete without a stop at the centenary Casa dos Pastéis de Belém, where you must try this sweet specialty.

Praça do Comércio (Terreiro do Paço) - It is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, open to the south to the vast estuary of the Tagus. Until the era of air transport, it was Lisbon’s grand reception hall for those arriving by boat, allowing them to enjoy its beauty even more. Here was the quay where Kings and Heads of State visiting Portugal disembarked.

Before the 1755 earthquake, it was called Terreiro do Paço. The Royal Palace then occupied the western wing of the square since the early 16th century when King Manuel moved it from the Castle of São Jorge to this location. In 1580, Philip I of Portugal ordered the construction of a new Palace, designed by Filippo Terzi and Juan Herrera (the same architect of the Escorial). Everything was destroyed by the earthquake. The name Praça do Comércio belongs to the Pombaline era and reflects a new social order that the Minister of King José I intended to privilege and value: the commercial, financial, and bourgeois class that contributed so much to the reconstruction of their city.

In the geometric center of the Square, facing the river, stands the equestrian statue of King José I, mounted on his horse Gentil, the work of sculptor Machado de Castro. It was placed in this location, with great pomp, on June 6, 1775, the King’s birthday, who discreetly watched the act from one of the windows of the Customs building. The festivities lasted three days and included a gigantic banquet for all the people of Lisbon. On the pedestal, on the river side, the effigy of Pombal (removed when the Minister fell from grace and replaced by the Liberals in 1834) is topped by the royal shield. The sculptural groups on each side of the pedestal represent Triumph, leading a horse, and Fame, leading an elephant, in a clear allusion to the Portuguese overseas domains. On the back of the pedestal, an allegorical bas-relief represents the various contributions to the reconstruction of Lisbon.

Under the North arcades, near the entrance to Rua do Ouro, do not miss entering the Martinho da Arcada café-restaurant, a city reference and one of its cult places. Before proceeding along Rua Augusta, which leads to Rossio, take a moment to observe the Triumphal Arch that adorns the passage.

Parque das Nações - Imagine a space that brings together some of the most daring projects of contemporary architecture, the Oceanarium, one of the largest in Europe, surprising themed gardens, exhibition centers, shows, and events. All this along the Tagus River, enjoying more than five kilometers of breathtaking scenery, in the heart of Lisbon, with easy access and parking, combined with a wide range of shopping and dining options.

Five minutes from Lisbon Airport, the Parque das Nações, resulting from the last world exhibition held in the 20th century, EXPO’98, is the imagined city turned into reality.

Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré, and Óbidos

Fátima - With remote origins, it was the Arab domain that marked the development of the place and gave it its name. According to legend, during the Christian Reconquest, the Templar knight Gonçalo Hermingues, known as Traga-Mouros, fell in love with Fátima, a Moorish captive during an ambush. Corresponding to the love, the young woman converted to Christianity, taking the name Oureana.

In the 16th century, the locality was elevated to a parish of the collegiate church of Ourém, then integrating into the Diocese of Leiria.

The locality developed significantly from the event of the Apparitions of Fátima, in the early 20th century, becoming one of the largest centers of Marian worship in Portugal, recognized worldwide by the Catholic Church.

The first apparition took place in 1917, at the site of Cova da Iria, where the Sanctuary is currently located. The largest manifestations of devotees occurred on May 13 (highlighting the Candlelight Procession on the night of the 12th and the Farewell Procession on the 13th, which closes the celebrations) and on October 13. However, between these two dates, every 13th is a day of devotion.

Related to the cult of Our Lady of Fátima, one can visit the houses where the visionary shepherds lived, in the village of Aljustrel.

In the backyard of Lúcia’s House, a monument marks the 2nd apparition of the Angel of Peace and the end of the Way of the Cross, started at the Sanctuary. Along the way, there are 14 chapels offered by Hungarian Catholics who took refuge in the West. The passage through Valinhos, 400 meters from the village, where monuments mark the site of the 4th apparition in 1917 and the Loca do Anjo, where in 1916 the shepherds saw the Angel of Peace for the 1st and 3rd times, stands out.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima - This Marian pilgrimage center evokes the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherds Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta, which occurred in 1917 and were recognized in 1930. The site was a rural property, called Cova da Iria, and belonged to Lúcia’s parents, who donated it to the sanctuary. It was here that five of the six apparitions took place.

The Sanctuary includes the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Prayer Area, and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. Complementing the Sanctuary are the Retreat Houses of Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Carmel and the Paul VI Pastoral Center.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary was built according to a project by the Dutchman Gerardus van Krieken and continued by the architect João Antunes. The first stone was blessed on May 13, 1928, and the church was dedicated on October 7, 1953. The following year, it was granted the title of Basilica by Pope Pius XII.

The architectural and decorative style is very simple. Inside, there are 14 side altars dedicated to the mysteries of the Rosary. The stained glass windows and paintings that adorn the church are by João de Sousa Araújo; they date from 1967 and represent scenes alluding to the life of Our Lady, the Apparitions, and the Message of Fátima. Those in the main chapel, representing the Evangelists, the Apparition of the Angel, and scenes of Pilgrimage, were created by the Madrid society Maumejean y Hijos. On the right side of the transept, the Gospel side, is the tomb of Francisco, who died in 1919. On the left side, the Epistle side, is the tomb of Jacinta, who died in 1920; next to her is the tomb of Sister Lúcia, who died in 2005. Francisco and Jacinta Marto were canonized at the Fátima Sanctuary on May 13, 2017, during the International Anniversary Pilgrimage of the Centenary of the Apparitions, presided over by Pope Francis.

Also noteworthy is the Italian-made organ, dating from 1952, consisting of 152 registers and about 12,000 pipes.

It is one of the most important Marian sanctuaries belonging to the Catholic Church worldwide and one of the main international destinations for religious tourism, receiving about six million visitors per year. It was visited by Popes Paul VI (1967), John Paul II (1982, 1991, and 2000), Benedict XVI (2010), and Francis (2017). The annual pilgrimages are celebrated on the 13th, from May to October.

Valinhos Sanctuary - Every 13th, from May to October, the Fátima Sanctuary receives thousands of pilgrims and tourists to celebrate the dates of the apparitions of Our Lady to the three visionaries and to visit all the places related to this cult.

In addition to the Sanctuary, built where the first apparition occurred, there is a Way of the Cross in Aljustrel, about 2 kilometers away, that goes through the places where Lúcia de Jesus (10 years old) and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto (9 and 7 years old respectively) saw the Angel and Our Lady.

In 1916, between April and October, the Angel appeared three times to the children, inviting them to prayer and penance.
On May 13, 1917, while tending a small flock in Cova da Iria and after praying the rosary around noon, they suddenly saw a light and a “Lady brighter than the Sun” on top of a small holm oak (where the Chapel of the Apparitions now stands).
The Lady told the three shepherds that they should pray a lot and invited them to return to Cova da Iria during the next five months, always on the 13th and at that hour.
The children did so, and on June 13, July, September, and October, the Lady appeared again and spoke to them.
On August 19, the apparition took place at the site of Valinhos, about 500 meters from Aljustrel, because on the 13th, the children had been taken by the County Administrator to Vila Nova de Ourém.

In the last apparition, on October 13, before about 70,000 people, the Lady told them she was the “Lady of the Rosary” and asked them to build a chapel in Her honor.
After the apparition, all those present witnessed the miracle: the Sun, resembling a silver disc, could be looked at without difficulty and spun on itself like a wheel of fire, seeming to plummet to the earth.

Subsequently, Lúcia (converted to a religious of Saint Dorothy) had three more visions of Our Lady in Spain (on December 10, 1925, February 15, 1926, and the night of June 13/14, 1929), asking for the devotion of the first five Saturdays and the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This last request was part of the so-called “Secret of Fátima” - a set of revelations that Lúcia is said to have written to inform Pope Pius XII.

On October 13, 1930, the Bishop of Leiria declared the apparitions worthy of credit and officially authorized the cult of Our Lady of Fátima, by the provision “A Divina Providência.”

On May 13, 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified, in Fátima, the visionaries Francisco and Jacinta Marto.

Batalha Monastery - One of the most fascinating sites in the Iberian Peninsula.

Near the site where the Batalha Monastery stands, on August 14, 1385, a decisive event for the consolidation of the Portuguese nation occurred: King João, Master of Avis and future king of Portugal, defeated the Castilian armies in the Battle of Aljubarrota. This victory ended a dynastic crisis that had dragged on since 1383, when King Fernando died, whose only daughter was married to the King of Castile, a pretender to the Portuguese throne.

King João dedicated the monastery to the Virgin Mary, whom he had invoked to intercede for his triumph, and donated it to the Dominican Order, to which his confessor belonged. This was the reason for the birth of a work whose construction would last for almost two centuries and resulted in one of the most fascinating Gothic monuments in the Iberian Peninsula. The construction of the monastery also embodied the consecration of King João I as King of Portugal, thus assuming itself as a symbol of the new dynasty and legitimized by divine will.

Its architectural value and historical significance motivated the classification of the monument as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.

The construction spanned seven reigns of the second dynasty (1385-1580) and involved a vast team of high-level master masons, both national and foreign, who were initially directed by Afonso Domingues, until his death in 1402. During this period, part of the church and the royal cloister were erected. He was succeeded by Master Huguet, an Englishman, who until 1438 completed the church, built the founder’s chapel, and began the pantheon of King Duarte. Between 1448 and 1477, Fernão de Évora designed the cloister of King Afonso V, and already in the 16th century, Mateus Fernandes was responsible for the Unfinished Chapels.

The monastery houses the most important collection of medieval Portuguese stained glass, which can be admired in the Main Chapel and the Chapter House. The central nave of the church rises to 32.5 meters and rests on eight columns on each side. In addition to the chapels and cloisters, the dormitory, refectory, and kitchen of the monastery can also be visited.

The square outside was once largely occupied by the Cloister of King João III. Burned during the Napoleonic Wars, it was demolished during the restoration works undertaken in the mid-19th century. In the middle of the square, one can appreciate a plaque that reproduces the sigils of various masons and marks the site of the old Church of Santa Maria-a-Velha, the primitive temple where the monastery’s builders attended liturgical services.

Nazaré - A typical fishing village, Nazaré is today a popular summer resort that has managed to maintain its traditions linked to the sea. The Sítio, at the highest point of the village (accessible by an elevator), is undoubtedly its best viewpoint. It is also linked to the cult of Our Lady of Nazaré, which, according to the 12th-century legend, was invoked by the mayor D. Fuas Roupinho, who, while pursuing a deer, was about to fall into the abyss, with no possible salvation. As a token of gratitude for the grace he received, D. Fuas Roupinho had a small chapel built here - the Ermida da Memória. A short distance away, the Sanctuary was built in the 18th century, from where grand festivities take place in September.

The connection of the people of Nazaré to the sea is well evident in the local crafts, which include nets, buoys, baskets, and traditional dolls dressed in the typical seven-skirt costumes, and in the gastronomy, which is dominated by fish and seafood dishes, such as Caldeiradas, Soups, açorda, and seafood rice, and dried horse mackerel.

In the surroundings, the Chapel of São Gião (7th century), one of the rare Visigothic temples in Portugal, stands out.

Currently, the great attraction of this city is the waves and surfing, thanks to the “Nazaré Canyon,” a submarine geomorphological phenomenon that allows the formation of giant and perfect waves. It is the largest submerged canyon in Europe, about 170 kilometers along the coast, reaching a depth of 5000 meters.

Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara gave it worldwide visibility when, in 2011, he rode the largest wave in the world on a sandy bottom, about 30 meters, at Praia do Norte, winning the Billabong XXL Global BigWave Awards and breaking a Guinness Book record. Like him, surfers from all over the world visit Nazaré every year to venture into the sea. On the beach, sunbathing is also appreciated and provides an excellent audience to admire the feats of these young people.

Óbidos - The medieval village of Óbidos is one of the most picturesque and well-preserved in Portugal.

Sufficiently close to the capital and situated on a high point near the Atlantic coast, Óbidos had strategic importance in the territory. Already occupied before the Romans arrived in the Iberian Peninsula, the village became more prosperous from the moment it was chosen by the royal family. Since King Dinis offered it to his wife Queen Isabel in the 13th century, it belonged to the House of Queens, which, over the various dynasties, benefited and enriched it. This is one of the main reasons why there are so many churches in this small locality.

Within the walls, we find a well-preserved castle and a labyrinth of streets and white houses that enchant those who stroll through them. Among Manueline portals, flowered windows, and small squares, there are several reasons to visit, good examples of the religious and civil architecture of the village’s golden times.

The Church of Santa Maria, the Church of Mercy, the Church of São Pedro, the Pillory, and, outside the walls, the Aqueduct and the Sanctuary of Senhor Jesus da Pedra, with a round plan, are some of the monuments that justify a careful visit. As well as the Municipal Museum of Óbidos, where the works of Josefa de Óbidos can be found. In the 17th century, she was a reference painter and a woman with an irreverent artistic attitude in her time. Her paintings reflect learning from great masters of the time, such as the Spaniards Zurbarán and Francisco de Herrera, or the Portuguese André Reinoso and Baltazar Gomes Figueira, her father.

Any time is good to visit Óbidos. For the love stories told there and the medieval atmosphere, it is an inspiring suggestion for a romantic or simply peaceful weekend. And if it includes a night of accommodation in the castle, then the setting will be perfect.

In the local gastronomy, the fish stew from the Óbidos Lagoon stands out, even better if accompanied by wines from the Western Demarcated Region. Another attraction is the famous Ginjinha de Óbidos, which can be enjoyed in various places, preferably in a chocolate cup.

Throughout the year, a program of events brings some animation to this small locality, but undoubtedly the most popular are the International Chocolate Festival, the Medieval Market, and Christmas, when the village is decorated with motifs alluding to the season. Also noteworthy are the Baroque Classical Music, Harpsichord, and Ópera Festivals, which grant a special atmosphere to Óbidos, with open-air performances on warm summer nights.

• Private transportation
• On-board WiFi

• On-board restrooms
• Gratuities
• Food and drinks

When you book this 3-day program, you will have the opportunity to see and experience the best of Sintra, Lisbon and Fátima in our company.

All tours start in Lisbon at 09:00 am and end at the same place, that is, your accommodation in Lisbon.

Our vehicles have air conditioning, wi-fi and bottled water available.

The time you spend in each location always depends on your wishes and you only have to speed up the day’s program with the driver, so our private tours are not rigid and can be changed by our customers.

Come and discover Portugal with us!

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.