Seven Wonders of Portugal Tours
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| No 1: Castle of Guimaraes |
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Guimaraes is associated with the emergence of the Portuguese national identity in the 12th century. It was within sight of the castle walls that Afonso Henriques defeated the army of his mother in 1128 resulting in him becoming the first king of Portugal
The origins of the castle can be traced back to circa 968 when Muradona, the countess of Galicia, ordered the construction of a castle to protect the population from the constant attacks unleashed upon them by the hordes of Vikings and the Moors. Upon assuming the government in the 11th century, Afonso Henriques ordered another larger and more solid construction to be built. This represented the beginning of the important defensive structure that we see today.
ACCOMODATION: Pousada de Santa Marinha – Guimaraes (2 nights)
Hotel Pousada Santa Marinha is a converted 17th Century Augustinian convent located on a hill outside the town of Guimaraes. It is considered to be one of the best in the group and was awarded the coveted Europa Nostra prize for its renovation and restoration.
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No 2: Monastery of Batalha |
Monastery of Batalha is a World Heritage site located in the town of Batalha. King Joao I ordered its construction in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for the Portuguese victory over the Castilians at the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385.
This Dominican monastery illustrates the history of Portugal and its rich artistic heritage, taking two centuries and fifteen architects to complete.
ACCOMODATION: Pousada Conde de Ourem (2 Nights)
Located in the medieval walled town of Ourem, this Pousada was built from a cluster of houses of a bygone age and has been renovated with all contemporary comforts and facilities.
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No 3: Castle of Obidos |
This magnificent Pousada is situated in the fortified town of Obidos. Within the town's old walls, is the castle which has been converted to make one of the country's finest hotels - and one of the first to become a Pousada.
ACCOMODATION: Pousada Castelo – Obidos (2 nights)
The Castle in the old walled town of Obidos
is now a small hotel of the Pousada Group.
Obidos is one of the most visited towns
in Portugal.
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No 4: Monastery of Alcobaca |
The monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaca, the largest Gothic construction in Portugal from the Middle Ages, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The monestery dates back to 1178 and its sturdy looking facade is an eighteenth century reconstruction in Baroque style.
When entering the church, the huge space, devoid of any ornamentation, will envelop you in a feeling of spirituality. Some of the most beautiful medieval tombs in Portugal are located here – the tombs of Kind Pedro I and his lover Ines de Castro.
ACCOMODATION: Pousada Castelo – Obidos (see above)
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No 5: Belem Tower, in Lisbon
Torre de Belem, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, is a tower located on the banks of the river Tagus in Lisbon.
Its construction was ordered by king Manuel I and it was built by Francisco de Arruda between 1514 and 1521.
The tower takes on a quadrangular shape reminiscent of medieval castles and has a polygon bulwark, a defensive feature that meant it could withstand heavy bombardment from out at sea. The watch posts, complete with burgeoning cupolas and located on each corner, demonstrate the influence of Moroccan fortifications.
ACCOMODATION: Pousada de Palmela (1 night)
This superb hotel, Pousada de Palmela is part of a medieval castle, built by the Moors. It is near Lisbon, the exciting capital city of Portugal.
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No 6: Jeronimos Monastery, in Lisbon |
The Jeronimos Monastery, a World Heritage site, is a magnificent monument marking the high point of Portuguese art in the century of the Discoveries. It is one of the most beautiful monastic churches in Europe but five hundred years ago it was only a modest chapel where departing and arriving seafarers came to pray. King Manuel transformed it into this remarkable monument, a prayer to the Virgin of Belem for the success of Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India. The site is a monument to the great men who spearheaded the Portuguese Discoveries, glorified by Luis de Camoes in his epic poem 'Os Lusiadas'.
ACCOMODATION: Pousada de Queluz (2 nights)
This Pousada is situated in the square in front of the Queluz National Palace, also known as the Portuguese Versailles, in Lisbon Portugal. The Pousada, a pink and white baroque treat, formerly housed the Royal Guard, and was opened as a Pousada in 1995.
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No 7: Pena National Palace, in Lisbon Coast |
The fantastic Pena National Palace is one of the best examples of 19th-century Romantic revivalism in Portugal.
Situated at the top of the Monte da Pena, the palace was built on the site of an old monastery belonging to the Order of St. Jerome. It was the fruit of the imagination of Dom Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha, who married the queen Dona Maria II in 1836. The king consort adopted Portuguese architectural and decorative forms for the palace, which he built according to the revivalist taste (neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic, neo-Renaissance).
ACCOMODATION: Pousada de Queluz (see above)
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