Itinerary

DAY ONE – MONDAY 27 SEPTEMBERD

Morning arrival at Lisbon airport where you are met by Susan for the transfer to the hotel near Sintra. Afternoon visit to the chalet and garden of Pena Park, built in the 1860s for King Ferdinand II’s future wife, the Countess of Edla. Resembling an alpine chalet in the woodland, it is surrounded by indigenous vegetation alongside meandering paths leading to a fernery and lake. Return to the hotel.
Welcome drink with Gerald Luckhurst who will give a talk on gardens in the region before dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

DAY TWO – TUESDAY 28 SEPTEMBERBD

Accompanied by Gerald, we spend the morning at a delightful estate outside Sintra, Quinta de Monserrate, created in the mid-nineteenth century by an inspired English owner, Francis Cook. The gardens were previously restored by Gerald, and he continues to oversee them. Refreshments in the garden café before continuing to the former royal Palácio de Queluz featuring extensive formal gardens with parterres, statues, vistas and glazed tiles. Gerald is assisting with the restoration programme and he will accompany us on our visit. Dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

DAY THREE – WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBERBLD

Leave on foot to visit a nearby privately owned garden recreated recently with great flair. The owner herself shows us around and then invites us to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch in the garden. Our afternoon visit is to the extensive hillside garden of Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, conceived by a theatre stage designer from Milan in the 19th century. We discover its surprise elements as we climb the hill. The architecture is Manueline and very typically Portuguese of the time. Some free time to visit Sintra before leaving for dinner in a typical local restaurant near the coast.

DAY FOUR – THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBERBD

On the outskirts of Lisbon the estate of Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira features a striking house overlooking a formal garden. We have a guided visit of the splendid interior of the house, which is still privately owned. The superb garden is notable for its parterres and walls lined with beautiful seventeenth-century azulejos tiles, their blue and white designs reflected in the pool. Pasteis da Nata, a local speciality can be tasted in the nearby bakery café at lunchtime. Visit to the cloisters of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém, overlooking the River Tagus, where Vasco da Gama stayed before his voyage of discovery to India. Built in 1496 and donated by King Manuel I to the Order of St Jerome, it is a beautiful building in the late Manueline style. We leave Belém and travel along the River Tagus to Cascais and the coastal road back to Sintra. Dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

DAY FIVE – FRIDAY 01 OCTOBERBLD

Depart with luggage to head north to Coimbra. Before lunch we enjoy a guided visit of the University of Coimbra’s fabulous library constructed in the early 1700s to display the wealth of Portugal. The book collections date back to 1750. Continue to the nearby church and the examination halls, all within the university complex. Lunch at a local restaurant, set in a garden with an important collection of trees. Our journey towards the Douro valley passes through extensive forests covering the mountainous terrain. We arrive at Quinta da Pacheca, a wine farm on the hilly slopes of the Douro River. The hotel, which is part of the estate, offers delightful views and a warm welcome. As it is the season of the grape harvest we have a chance to observe the atmospheric traditional pressing of the grapes. Dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

DAY SIX – SATURDAY 02 OCTOBERBLD

Morning visit to the 18th century Palácio de Mateus designed by Nasoni and situated in the hills beyond the Douro. The wonderful gardens are contemporary with the palace, with subsequent additions of cedar trees and further parterres. Especially eye-catching is the sculpture ‘sleeping on the lake’ designed in 1981 by João Cutileiro. We continue to the Douro riverside for lunch in Pinhão, and in the afternoon we enjoy a river cruise in a traditional Rabelo boat upstream, returning along the riverside road to Peso da Régua and to our hotel. On our return to the hotel, we enjoy a wine tasting session, with a visit to the cellars, before dinner.

DAY SEVEN – SUNDAY 03 OCTOBERBD

The garden of Casa da Serralves was created in the Art Deco style in the late 1920s and surrounds the impressive house on the edge of the town of Porto. An extensive garden with water rills and lakes is planted with a superb collection of trees. We continue to the centre of Porto with free time for lunch. Afternoon guided visit to the vaulted cellars at Grahams’ Port Lodge overlooking the river valley and a chance to taste and discover their range of port wine.
Return to the hotel for dinner together on the final evening.

DAY EIGHT – MONDAY 04 OCTOBERB

After breakfast we depart southwards for Lisbon and our return flights.