PRE AND POST-SOCIAL PROGRAM


PRE-SOCIAL PROGRAM

16.09.06
3 Castles Tour

Sesimbra’s Castle Saturday morning, Departure by bus for a tour, with professional/English speaking guide, towards Sesimbra Castle and Azeitão. Short stop for a talk on traditional glazed Portuguese tiles and a visit to Centro de Artesanato S. Simão, followed by a visit to the famous wine cellars of J. Mª da Fonseca where lunch will be served with wine tasting included.

Setubal’s Fortress of S. Filipe In the afternoon there will be a visit to the Convento da Arrábida, an old Franciscan Monastery, today belonging to the Fundação Oriente, in the very heart of the Arrabida mountains, and facing the Atlantic Ocean. The next two stops are at Setubal’s Fortress of S. Filipe and at Palmela Castle.

Palmela’s Castle At the end of the afternoon, while returning to Sesimbra, there will be a short stop done to visit Quinta da Bacalhoa, an stately home from the 17th century, with a precious tile collection. In this property are produced some of the most exquisite wines from this region, and will have the opportunity to taste them before returning to Sesimbra.

17.09.06
Arrabida’s coast sailing on a traditional Galeão de Sal and Dolphins observation or a walking tour at the city centre of Setúbal

Galeão do Sal Sunday morning, departure for a sailing trip along the Arrabida coast and its beautiful cliffs. We Embark at Porto de Abrigo in Sesimbra on a typical old ‘galeão’, a traditional sailing vessel once used to transport the salt that was produced along the banks of the Sado River, today completely restored. Lunch will be served on board at Portinho da Arrábida, a small and sheltered harbour, and we shall also sail the beaches of Galapos, Galapinhos, Figueirinha and Comenda. In the afternoon, after lunch, we will sail to Setúbal where two options are offered to participants: watching dolphins on a semi-rigid boat or taking guided tour on foot to the historic city centre of Setúbal.

Return to Sesimbra by the end of the afternoon.



POST-SOCIAL PROGRAM

21.09.06
Évora and Monsaraz, visit to Alentejo, south of Portugal.

Temple of Diana Wednesday morning, departure by bus towards Évora. Guided tour in this beautiful city classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

Reguengos de Monsaraz After lunch, the tour proceeds to Reguengos to visit the wine cellars of Herdade do Esporão and its Estate Vineyards, with wine tasting included. The next stop will be at small white medieval Monsaraz, to visit one of the oldest towns in Alentejo.

Return to Sesimbra around 17h30.

22.09.06
Lisbon and Sintra

Tower of Belem Departure by bus at 9h30, for a guided tour around Lisboa, our capital city.

Sintra’s Palace After lunch, the tour continuous towards our romantic and aristocratic town of Sintra that Byron called “glorious Eden”.


Cascais BayOn the way the tour will pass through Cascais and Estoril following the picturesque seaside road called the ‘Marginal’.

Return to Setúbal or remain in Lisbon at the end of the afternoon.