Portugal

Lisbon - This is one of the most charismatic, picturesque and brightest cities of Europe. The amazing and unique city of Lisbon is the capital of Portugal. This is a place where the rich historical past, astonishing modernism and progressive thinking organically combine. The city will undoubtedly be loved by tourists of different preferences and ages. The city was almost completely destroyed because of an earthquake and a tsunamy and fire consequently in 1755. But in a short period the city was reborn out of ruins accordig to the project by Marquise de Pombal. Nevertheless, at any corner of the city you can see remnants reminding of the imperial past of the city: magnificent catehdrals, impressive palaces, pompous statues in memory to monarchs and Marquises. People come here to get acquainted with the rich Portuguese history, to plunge into the noisy, joyful, vivid and saturated nightlife, to have a rest at the weekends and create life-time memories. Lisbon is a perfect place for family vacations. You can also stop here to enjoy the wonderful beaches nearby. At the end of the XIX and the beginning of the XX century, Lisbon started to develop and expand towards the mainland creating new and quite interesting new regions. Thus Avenida de Liberdade, Edward VII Park, the Gulbenkian Park, and many other interesting places were created.

The attractive city of Sintra is situated in the middle of densely overgrown centuries-old pine hills of Sierra -da-Sintra. Under the canopy of which elaborate palaces, luxurious mansions and ruins of an ancient castle were created. The diversity of magnificent historical attractions and buildings in combination with local unique sights, have, indeed, turned Sintra into a fantastic tourist destination. By visiting this wonderful city you will have an experience of an unforgettable excursion from Lisbon. Every tourist having arrived here for a rest must visit Sintra to explore the list of most popular attractions. Here is a bucket - list for travelers:

• The Old City Center
• You will get there as soon as you arrive in Lisbon by train. The station of Sintra is located in the center of the Old City.
• The Sintra National Palace
• The Palace of Sintra is situated in the heart of the Old part of the city.
• The Castle of Moors - It is a Moorish Castle ( Castelo dos Mouros) - an old military fortress of Islamic presence in the region. The fortress was reconstructed in 2013. To get to the top of the Moorish Castle you will have to climb on foot admiring the picturesque views which will open in front of you while getting up to the heights of the hills.
• Pena National Castle
• This is the first palace built in Europe during the Renaissance epoch. The Pena Palace is considered to be a national memorial in Portugal and it is enlisted among the World cultural heritage of UNESCO as well as in the list of seven wonders of Portugal.
• Kinta da Regaleira - the mystical mansion of Quinta da Regaleira is a former countryside possession of a wealthy landlord, who was also a member of Masonic lodge. Buying the estate in Sintra in the XIX century, he transformed this place into a mystical garden with underground secret passages, ponds, towers, and chapels as well as with a stone well with a spiral staircase which the rumors has it that it was used for Masonic rites.
• Chalet da Condessa d' Edla in Sintra is a not large wooden house with a picturesque garden which was built in the XIX century by Fernando II King and Countess Edla his future wife, as their private love shelter.

The Cape Rock (In Portuguese it sounds as Cabo da Boca) is located 18 km from the city of Sintra, in the National Park Sintra - Kashkaish. However, there was an earthquake in 1755 which went down in history as the Great Lisbon earthquake destroying the major part of Portugal, including the building nearby the Cape. The Prime Minister Marquis de Pombal at that time supervising the restoration work, ordered to build 4 lighthouses on the West seashore, as the two old ones were not sufficient.

The Coin Cave - Locals tell an old legend about a failed robbery and murder of a rich man. However, the criminals did not succeed with the choice of a convenient place, time or the target of their criminal plot. As a result, the robbers failed to make money by mugging the wealthy passer-by. They dropped the lifeless body of the victim off the cliff and because of too much of a hurry, they dropped off the bag of gold coins. The gold coins scattered over the rocks and the robbers left without booty. Since then, the depths of the cave which is allegedly strewn with gold was called a "Piggybank with coins".

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte is a unique architectural complex on the slopes of the mount Espinho, 7 kilometers away from the center of a Portuguese city of Braga. It consists of a large, picturesque garden, a magnificent cathedral and an unusual staircase leading to it. Via sacra has 591 stairs. The name of the sanctuary Bom Jesus do Monte is translated into English as Christ in Golgotha. The sanctuary was established in the 14th century when on the slopes of the mount Espinho, there was erected a cross and built a chapel of the Lord's Cross. This place became a pilgrimage. Within 1494 and 1522 two more chapels were built here and already in 1629 the Brotherhood of Bon Jesús do Monti was created.

Attractive, bright and colorful Porto has become one of the most popular touristic destinations in Western Europe recently. This city has got a rich history, а variety of diverse and interesting attractions, wild and saturated nightlife. There are many sights to visit and many wonderful things to explore. That is why it will be quite interesting and capturing to visit this beautiful and unique city for tourists of any category.

The city of Fatima got renowned as a place where Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in 1917. Her apparition kept repeating for several times. This divine miracle is recognized by the Catholic Church as genuine. Since then many pilgrims arrive in Fatima to atone for their sins. In honor and glory to the Virgin Mary, there was built a huge Cathedral or a Basilica. There gather crowds of people from different countries and nations on the Apparition day of Saint Virgin Mary on the 13th of May.

Excursion itinerary: Lisbon - Sintra - Decorative Residance- Quinta da Regaleira, Cape Roca, Qashqai, Estoril, Obidos, Alcobaca, Batalha, Tomar, Porto, Braga, Good Jesus of the Mount (Bom Jesus do Mont), Guimaraes, Coimbra, Fatima, Coin Caves (Grutas da Moeda), Mafra, José Franco Village, Ericeira, a cruise along the Dora river, supper accompanied with FADU.

Accommodation: Lisbon- 5 nights, Porto - 2 nights (total - 8 days, 7 nights).