Self Drive: Historic Villages of Portugal

Arrival at Lisbon airport. Welcome at the airport and  transfer to the hotel. Free afternoon to recover from jet lag or simply stroll around the city. Overnight in Lisbon.

Explore the city of Lisbon and its many charms with a walking tour. Rich in history, monuments and many museums, we suggest to start on the waterfront of the Tejo river where the Age of Discoveries started a long time ago. Known for inspiring many artists and poets, let yourself be immersed by all of its beauty. Since there is a lot to enjoy in the city of Fado, a Portuguese type of music considered as World Heritage by Unesco, we suggest a nice dinner in one of the city’s Fado house and fall in love with one the many city’s charms. Overnight in Lisbon.

Pick up the rental car at the hotel. The day starts with a trip that will take you to the Beiras region, towards Belmonte. This location will be your home for the next days, in which you'll discovery the region. Take the day to discover Belmonte and its wonders. It is known for being the birthplace of the navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral, where the Roman presence is clearly visible on the tower Centum Cellas. It's also rich in the Jewish Heritage, home of the Bet Eliahu synagogue. Overnight in Belmonte.

Today you'll discover Linhares da Beira, Trancoso and Marialva. In Linhares da Beira, its castle dominates the landscape along with the valley of the Mondego river. It is known for being the capital of extreme sport paragliding. In Trancoso, stroll around inside the medieval wall and visit the churches of St Peter and St Mary. Delight yourself with the honey produced in the region, and the local cheese. Afterwords, follow to the village of Marialva, known to be a military square in Middle Age and obligatory passage point for many pilgrims. Be sure to visit the castle and several historic monuments. Don't forget to taste the roasted lamb or roast cod on hot coals. Overnight in Belmonte.

Another day of discovery will take you to Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, passing by Almeida and Castelo Mendo. Story goes that Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo became part of the Portuguese crown in the reign of King Dinis (XIII century). Is on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, which led to the construction of the church of Our Lady of Rocamador. Near the Spanish border, Almeida breathes history and tradition and the list of places to visit is quite varied, but you can not miss the ramparts of Fort Square and underground galleries where people used to hide. Later returning to Belmonte, stop in Castelo Mendo. Overnight in Belmonte.

Today visit to Castelo Novo, with stops in Sortelha and Monsanto. Sortelha still retains the atmosphere of medieval streets, protected by the walls of the imposing castle of the thirteenth century. Then a visit to the most Portuguese village in Portugal. It is a location where the geographical features combined with human intervention, led to interesting uses of small caves and rock formations, which were converted into houses. The craftsmanship is rich and discover the legend of the marafonas, dolls that are associated with the fertility cult. The cuisine is also a point that can not miss, where the most popular food is the asparagus with eggs or lagarada cod. Your last stop is Castelo Novo, which is situated on the eastern part of Sierra Gardunha. Overnight in Belmonte.

The last day will be dedicated to discover something precious. The Village of Piodão, with its houses made of schist stone and slate roofs, is a truly magical place and that will remain in your memory, due to the simplicity and friendliness of the local people. From the land, the local take some typical products of local cuisine, which features the chanfana or roasted lamb. Finally, returning to Lisbon, drop off the rental car at he hotel. Overnight in Lisbon.

Departure to Lisbon airport with a driver.