Art & Opera in Lisbon

Itinerary

• Day 1 - Arrival in Lisbon & Botanical Gardens

  On arrival at Lisbon airport, we will be transferred to the 4* Hotel Lisboa Plaza, set back just 50 yards from the Avenida da Liberdade, and immediately below the historic Bairro Alto. Time permitting, we will visit the Botanical Gardens, notable for not only its collection of plants and trees but also for the ingenious greenhouses known as the Estufa Fria.

• Day 2 - Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga & the Gulbenkian

  This morning we will visit the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, a glorious collection of Portuguese and other European art, illuminated manuscripts, silver and ceramics. We spend the afternoon at the Gulbenkian Foundation where the fabulous collection of fine and decorative arts built up by industrialist Calouste Gulbenkian is displayed. We will learn why this magnificent collection of art, ceramics, and porcelain – one of the world’s most important in private hands – ended up in Lisbon.

• Day 3 - Belém and the Museo Nacional do Azulejo

  We drive to the Belém area of Lisbon overlooking the River Tagus. This is the historic heart of the city where we find a collection of the most important historic buildings including the Torre del Belém and Monastery of San Jeronimos, both excellent examples of the decorative Manuelline style of architecture. Next we visit the Museo Nacional do Azulejo where we will see the finest display of iconic blue and white tiles in the world and stop for a traditional pastry and coffee in the most historic café in Lisbon. Before returning to the hotel, we will go to the Monument of the Navigators which recalls Portugal’s glorious maritime history.

• Day 4 - Sintra

  Today we shall visit nearby Sintra, a beautiful town high in the wooded hills above Lisbon. This was the chosen place for aristocratic families, exiles and members of a number of deposed monarchies to reside. We will visit the flamboyant Pena Palace used as a summer retreat by the Portuguese Royal Family and then continue to Monserrate which was once the home of the aesthete, William Beckford, who came to Sintra in the 18th century to live his chosen way of life away from the censorious eyes of British society. Lunch is included at the magnificent Palacio Seteais. This evening, we will go to a performance of Falstaff at the Teatro Nacional De São Carlos.

• Day 5 - Queluz

  We head out of town to Queluz which was built for King Pedro II, first as a manor house and then transformed into the pink, glittering rococo palace we see today. There are splendid and opulent rooms including the Music Room and the Throne Room and much French and English furniture of the period. The garden surrounding the palace is a magnificent French-inspired creation but with quintessentially Portuguese touches such as the tiled bridges and canals which run through the park. After our farewell lunch, we go directly to the airport for our return flight.