Tour of Portugal - Madrid 6 nights

Early morning meeting at Macedonia airport for our flight to Madrid via Athens. Arrival, boarding our bus and immediate departure for Porto. Arrival and check-in at our hotel. In the evening free time for a first acquaintance always accompanied by our guide.

Breakfast and then we will depart for the centre to start our tour. We will get to know the impressive city built on the banks of the Douro River and spreading harmoniously over the hills, still preserving its medieval aspect today. In the Ribeira area, along the river, the old districts with its many traditional shops and the open market located at the dock, where the characteristic boats used to load the wine of the same name into the old boats. In the upper town we will tour the area of the Cathedral and the old railway building. Then we will visit the golden-plated St. Francis Church and the Bolshoi Palace, which houses the Chamber of Commerce and formerly the stock exchange. Finally, we will visit an old winery in the city, where for many years the famous "PORTO" wine has been maturing and we will have the pleasure of tasting its wonderful taste and rich aroma in a specially made "calice" glass. 

Breakfast and we depart for Coimbra, which is the first University City of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in the world. We will see the church of Santa Clara Nova, the University site and wander the streets of the city of poets with its much sung Montego river. After the tour we will continue to Fatima. We will visit the Basilica of Fatima, the Chapel of the Apparitions, and the modern Basilica of the Holy Trinity, the work of the eminent Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis. Departure for the capital of Portugal, Lisbon. Arrival and check-in at our hotel.

Breakfast. Our day today is dedicated to the picturesque and welcoming city, which despite the continuous invasions of the barbarian peoples for many centuries, still maintains its Latin glorious character. We will admire the Museum of the Royal Carriages, the Monastery of the Hieronymites, the most impressive symbol of Portuguese power and wealth, built in 1502 by order of King Manuel I to commemorate Vasco da Gama's successful return from India. We will then visit the Monument of Discoveries as well as the distinctive Tower of Belém, where Portuguese navigators set out for the ends of the earth. This famous tower, which looks more like a tiny castle, was built in 1515 near the banks of the Tagus River to protect the estuary and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening we suggest you enjoy traditional Portuguese fado songs, made famous all over the world by the famous singer Amalia Rodrigues.

Breakfast and then we will depart for a pleasant excursion to the outskirts of Lisbon. Our first stop is Sidra, summer residence of the kings, a city that abounds in natural beauty and is characterized by its historical and cultural heritage. The Palazzo Real, dominating the top of a lush green mountain, will take us through its various medieval and Arabic architectural elements to a period of romantic ecstasy. We will then pass through Cascais, a traditional fishing village that grows next to the capital Estoril, the resort of all time, which is considered one of the most important tourist spots in the world and provides a variety of activities such as golf courses, a race track as well as one of the largest casinos in Europe.  We will then return to our hotel in Lisbon.

Breakfast and depart for Madrid. Arrival and check-in at our hotel. In the afternoon free time for a first acquaintance with the city.

Breakfast and then we will start our city tour. We will see the impressive monuments and squares, starting with the most central point of the city, the Puerta del Sol, where the city's symbol statue is located. We will also see the square of the Goddess Cybele, the Alcala Gate and the Retiro Park. We will visit the unique Museum of Prado, which houses 3,000 paintings and one of the most important collections of Spanish painters, and enjoy the masterpieces of great artists such as Velazquez, Murillo, Goya, El Greco and others. The tour concludes with a visit to the Palácio Real, the famous Basilica Palace. A colossal Italian Baroque building with 2,800 rooms where we will admire some of them. In the afternoon free time. Visit the Plaza Mayor, the grandest square in the city, taste tapas and lose yourself in its seductive streets.

For those who wish, after the city tour we suggest a day trip to the enchanting Toledo. We depart for the "City of Three Cultures", Toledo, a city with a great historical, artistic and cultural heritage. Arrival and we will immediately wander through the narrow streets of the medieval city and visit the Cathedral, a unique building by great artists and a mixture of many architectural styles, and the Church of St. Thomas, a 12th century mosque, where we will admire El Greco's masterpiece "The Burial of Count Orgath." Our last stop is the house where the great painter El Greco lived and worked. Free time and then we will depart for the airport for our return flight.