Madrid and Lisbon With Fatima 8 Day Tour

Madrid and Lisbon With Fatima 8 Day Tour
Eight day tour of Madrid and Lisbon with Fatima
1st Day (Mon.) MADRID
Meet at the airport for assistance and transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day as you wish, resting or exploring the area, before returning to your hotel accommodation.
2nd Day (Tue.) MADRID
Enjoy a delicious breakfast in your hotel. Spend the morning touring the city of Madrid; discover the medieval origins of the city, inlcuding the Arabic fortress at the Barrio de la Morería, famous for its historic architecture. Drive through the courtesan district of the Hapsburg ruler Phillip II, with its Renaissance and Baroque-style buildings, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa. See the Madrid of the Bourbons and the complex town planning schemes of Charles III, the Royal Palace (which you can see from the inside), the Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains and the Puerta de Alcalá. Admire nineteenth century edifices such as the Prado Museum. Don't forget to experience contemporary Madrid as well, in areas such as the Gran Vía, the Castellana, the district of Salamanca, Plaza Castilla and Parque del Oeste, as well as the commercial and financial areas of modern Madrid. Highlights include the emblematic Las Ventas Bullring and the Santiago Bernabéu Football Stadium. Stop for a free drink at the famous “Hard Rock Café”. Take the rest of the day to to continue exploring the wonders that the city has to offer, before returning to your hotel accommodation.
3rd Day (Wed.) MADRID – TRUJILLO – LISBON
Enjoy breakfast in your hotel. After that, you will be taken to the JULIÁ TRAVEL bus terminal, which is located in the underground parking beneath the Plaza de Oriente. Depart from there at 08:30 a.m. and travel westbound towards Trujillo in Extremadura, the homeland of historic explorers. There's some free time to explore its beautiful and monumental Plaza Mayor. Continue on along the Alentejo plains in Portugal via historic sites as Elvas, Estremoz and Setubal. Finally, cross over the impressive 25th April Bridge to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, where your hotel accommodation awaits. There's also an optional night tour to attend a Fado show featuring distinctive Portuguese music and singing.
4th Day (Thu.) LISBON
Have breakfast in your hotel. Spend the morning enjoying a sightseeing tour of Olissipo, the ancient Roman name for Lisbon, including a drive through its main squares and avenues, Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, the Coach Museum, the Monument to the Discoverers, Marquis of Pombal Square, and Liberty Avenue. The afternoon is free, so you can visit the nostalgic corners of the Alfama Quarter. This is the the old part of the city, complete with Castle, and countless old buildings nestling in narrow, twisting “Ruas”. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of the genuine “tabernas” where Fado music recalls a distant past, before you return to your hotel accommodation.
5th Day (Fri.) LISBON – ALCOBAÇA – BATALHA – FATIMA
Have breakfast in your hotel and then drive northwards to our first point of interest: Alcobaça. Visit a 12th century church containing the tombs of Pablo and Inês de Castro. Weather permitting, continue on to Sitio to have a panoramic view of the beach and the village. From there, go to Batalha and visit the Monastery, a masterpiece of Gothic and Manueline style considered a World Heritage place by UNESCO. Discover Fatima a central location in the Christian faith and World Pilgrims Sanctuary with its impressive Basilica and Cova da Iria where the Virgin Mary appeared to three local children. View the church where the tombstones of Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco are, The Chapel of Apparitions, heart of the shrine. After all those memorable sights, return to your accommodation in your hotel.
6th Day (Sat.) FATIMA – OBIDOS – NAZARE - LISBON
Have a leisurely breakfast in your hotel. At noon, head for the beautiful walled town of Obidos with its picturesque streets and the Pousada do Castelo followed by a visit to the picturesque fishing village of Nazare. Afterwards, return to your hotel in Lisbon through a patchwork of agricultural scenery.
7th Day (Sun.) LISBON – CACERES – MADRID
Have breakfast in your hotel. Depart at 07:30 hrs for Caceres, another World Heritage place because of the city’s blend of Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance architecture. Walk through its Plaza Mayor and the Old Town with its famous Medieval Quarter. Continue on to Madrid where your comfortable hotel accommodation awaits.
8th Day (Mon.) MADRID
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport. END OF OUR SERVICE
Highlights
• Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Madrid
• Tour the magnificent cities of Madrid and Cordoba
• See Trujillo, home of the famous explorers
• Explore Lisbon in all its grandeur
• Be inspired by religious monuments at Fatima
• Return to Madrid via historic Caceres