Food and Wine Tour of Portugal

Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon spreads across seven hills and overlooks the banks of the Tagus River as it inches close to the Atlantic Coast. Trams circumvent the cobblestone streets as funiculars ascend the slopes between the lavish homes and the charming cafes that are adorned with clear views to passersby as they traverse the bustling streets. The aroma of salted cod cooked with onions and potatoes emanates from the traditional taverns that fill the antique neighborhoods. In the afternoon, the ruby hues of Portuguese wines cast glowing shadows against the walls and tablecloths of hidden bars and quiet restaurants.

Your flight will land at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, where your private transfer will meet you upon arrival. Settle into the comforts of your glamorous hotel that offers Art Deco décor and overlooks the cobblestone streets. Your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby eager to lead you through an engaging introduction to the city’s remarkable past that has continued to inform present culture. Your guide will point down to the ground along the Calçada Portuguesa to view one of the city’s lavish mosaic streets. Part of Lisbon’s exuberant and welcoming atmosphere emanates from the gorgeous white and blue limestone tiles that have been placed in geometric shapes by skilled artisans.

The symmetry offers a beautiful path to walk down and allows for you to backtrack through the city and never have the same view twice. The Elevador da Bica is a charming funicular that connects Largo do Calhariz to Rua de São Paulo. The undulating street provides a stunning panorama of daily life that is framed by colorful houses, verandas decorated with flowerpots, and a backdrop of riverbanks. After strolling along the city streets, your guide will lead you to the captivating Jerónimos Monastery, home to the tomb of celebrated Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama.

In the morning, the sunlight will wash over the picturesque suburb of Belém, located on the western edge of the city. Leafy residential streets lead to lush gardens and verdant parks set beneath the red-tiled roofs of the surrounding whitewashed homes. The large golden bricks of the 11th-century fortifications of Castelo de São Jorge crown the plateau at the peak the city. The aromas of lime, mint and strawberry emanate from the confectionary Fabrica do Gelado and produce more than 18 flavors of celebrated ice cream, including an enticing elderberry flower.

Your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you out of the captivating heart of Lisbon to arrive in the beautiful marble town of Estremoz. The region rivals the renowned Carrara, Italy in producing marvelous marble stones. The streets of the city glint a lush white from the cobbled marble as antique protective walls wrap around the historical city center. The aroma of oranges emanates from the tree-lined lanes that lead to the dell topped with a 13th-century castle. Serene plazas open up the old quarter among the scent of savory olives. You can look out into the countryside and enjoy a view of lush vines that bring texture to the undulating valley.

Wandering along the streets will lead you beneath old stone arches and crenulated towers. A quaint café will have a display case filled with decadent traditional cheesecake, but you will make your way to a local wine cellar for an exclusive tour and tasting of the local vines. The whitewashed estate overlooks the flourishing vines, and you can run your fingers over the plump grapes before entering into the cellar to sample the unique flavors drawn from the soil. Your guide will offer you a sample of a Touriga Franca, and the rich purple will fill your glass. The aroma of violets and cherry emanate from the wine to offer a delicate blend of fruity and earthy.

In the morning, the aroma of fresh pastries will drift from the quiet cafes that pepper the marble city. Coffee textured with rich cream accompanies the scent of buttery and browning dough. You will meet your private transfer in your hotel lobby and venture to the town of Évora, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city remains one of Portugal’s oldest, occupied by Romans two millennia ago and Moors more than five centuries ago. History and culture loom large over the 14th-century walls as narrow, cobbled lanes lead to the columns of the Roman Temple.

The city’s university provides a youthful ambiance that contrasts with the rustic wineries found on the outskirts of town alongside preserved Neolithic monuments. The austere façade of the Cathedral was built by melding Romanesque and Gothic styles around the 12th century. The Moorish occupation left a stunning footprint across the architecture, including a 16th-century marble sphere that adorns the Renaissance fountain in the plaza, Largo da Porta de Moura. Outside of town, you can view the remarkable remains of the Roman Aqueduct which stand more than 85 feet tall.

Shops and warehouses are nestled between the arches, including along the avenue of Rua do Cano. You will make your way to a wine cellar with more than 700 years of experience to view the medieval tower, the old chapel, and the impressive flavors produced in the wine and olive oils. The orchard offers a pleasant and herbaceous aroma that blends with the scent of the vines. The cellar boasts barrels stacked atop one another, each branded with the number and the name of the varietal produced. The cool temperatures contrast with the warmth of the countryside.  The tunnel stands more than 40 feet underground and contains 1,500 barrels of American oak and French oak to offer stellar conditions for the region’s white wines to mature.

In the morning, the sunlight will wash over the vines and orchards of the countryside. A golden hue will glint off of the Roman columns of the preserved temple. The conical roof of the Cathedral protrudes above the whitewashed homes that are topped with red-tiled roofs in the foreground. After breakfast, you will make your way to the serene municipality of Portel, set beneath the dramatic walls of the hilltop castle and a symbolic image of the Alentejo region.

The crenulated tower frames the open blue sky against the sporadic scent of the sea brought by the breeze. The aroma of apple and cinnamon pastries drifts out of a traditional bakery and offers an enticing combination of flavors. After visiting a winery, you will meet a local chef eager to introduce you to the special flavors of the region and the countryside. Enter into the kitchen where ingredients, such as fresh garlic and cilantro, overtake the table.

Your chef uses slay plates and platters crafted and decorated by local artisans. The olive oil has a nutty aroma and creamy texture taken from the natural minerals of the soil in which the trees grow. You will have a chance to sample a sheep cheese to taste the savory flavor and crumbly texture. The chef will guide you through chopping and dicing the ingredients to create a seductive tomato soup known as sopa de tomate, served over chunks of yeasty bread known as pão.

In the morning, you will search for the remaining flavors of Portuguese mint, known as poejo, and cinnamon cakes dressed in cherries. The cooking course from the previous evening has brought you closer to the culture of Portugal through the cuisine. After breakfast, your private transfer will escort you to the seaside region of Algarve, where 16th-century Portuguese explorers set out on their journeys across the globe. The beaches shimmer with white and golden sand against the water’s layers of turquoise and cobalt colors. Dramatic rocks frame small coves, and historical villages overlook cork trees and hills blossoming with flowers. Stop in the village of Faro to past through the Arco da Villa, an 11th-century gateway erected by the Moors to offer entrance into the center streets.

The horseshoe arch leads to the meandering lanes and hidden nooks that are dominated by the 13th-century Cathedral. Traditional azulejos tiles, known for their pearlescent backgrounds and blue outlines, decorate the chapel amongst the gilded wood carvings and the inlaid marble. In the marina, fishing boats wade in the calm water as their masts drift back and forth like a moving skyline against the still wooden boards of the quay. You will continue to the fishing port of Olhão to find the palm trees rustling in the sea breeze and the aroma of grilled octopus dressed in garlic as Portuguese mint drifts in the air from the traditional restaurants that line the main street of Avenida da República.

In the darkness of early morning, the fishing boats return to the marina with nets bound for the Mercado. Vendors call out to one another to begin trading amongst the fishers as seafood ranging from mussels to cod, swordfish to octopus fill the top of the marble-clad stalls. Beyond the fish market, visitors are led to the vibrant fruit and vegetable stalls that line the narrow aisles. Cafes fill the cobblestone walkways and shade patrons with wide-brimmed umbrellas. On the outskirts of town, narrow strips of sand shelter the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa against the open waters of the Atlantic.

The day is yours to indulge in the seaside ambiance of Olhão to relax on the glistening sandy beach or take to the landscape on the trails that bring captivating views of Portugal’s hills and coastline. For a unique view of the landscape, you can make your way to Cape Saint Vincent, located along Western Europe’s most southerly point. The wind and sea have shaped the jagged limestone cliffs and bring intensity as you stand at the end of the known world at a height of nearly 200 feet above sea level.

The whitewashed walls and red-tiled roof of the lighthouse contrast with the cobalt Atlantic waters. You can hear the waves crashing against the boulders below as the historical 16th-century ramparts frame the continent’s edges. You will have a panorama of the protruding edges of Portugal as they reach northward.  Legend states that Henry the Navigator spent his days staring off into the sea while charting routes to the far reaches of Africa and East Asia, inspired by the crashing waves and wind.

Parque Natural da Ria Formosa spreads across the landscape on the outskirts of Olhão. Lagoons, marshland, and saltpans encompass more than 40 miles as nesting birds, including gulls and terns, wade in the iridescent waters. The emerald-colored cobblestones that pave the City Museum plaza flickers in the sunlight and the interior features artifacts that span millennia, from Bronze-Age pots to Iron-Age tools, along with Islamic vases. When you are ready, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you back to Lisbon to enjoy the continued splendors of the capital. Upon returning to the city, your guide will lead you on a tour that includes the tradition and history of patterned tiles.

The relaxed pace of the seaside fades beneath the bustling activity of the city streets. The trams traverse the cobbled avenues as the aroma of fresh pastries spill out of the abundant cafes. Villas, palaces, and churches across Lisbon feature the white porcelain tiles that are adorned with blue patterns and figures. You will begin your tour at Campo de Santa Clara, which was built in 1860 with a romantic architectural style inspired by Baroque tradition. The blue and yellow tiles burst around the whitewashed window frames, and the mosaics look as though someone has painted and textured the façade directly. Continue into the artistic workshop that produces specialized azulejo tiles to view the artisan crafters at work. The studio opened in the mid 18th-century and continues to provide private patrons of the arts, along with communities around the world with the original, handcrafted decorations.

In the morning, the doors to the Museu do Fado open near the rushing waters of the Tagus River. The galleries offer insight into the traditional musical genre of Portugal that celebrates the mixture of soothing guitar and passionate singing intertwined with the progression of Portuguese culture. Take one last look at the Triumphal Arch in Comercio Square that once acted as the gateway to the city to welcome visitors and returning Lisboetas to the streets of Lisbon. Historical figures, including Vasco de Gama and Henry the Navigator, adorn the 18th-century edifice that represents the glory and valor of Portugal. After one last wander, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel to escort you to Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport for your flight home.