Koken in Portugal
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Dag 1
Today, and after the airport formalities, meet and greet your private guide, outside customs. The drive follows to Belem area where you will be lectured on a private visit to the main sites after a gourmet treat at one of the most traditional pastry shop.
Boasting springtime temperatures during the winter and cool summers freshened by a breeze blowing in from the Atlantic, Costa de Lisboa, on the southwestern coast, offers a rich and impressively integrated diversity. The capital of Portugal since its conquest from the Moors in 1147, Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of History.
First stop will be at Antiga Confeitaria de Belém, dated back from early 19th centyry. Nowadays it serves an average 10,000 Pasteis de Belém (custard tarts) a day (the record is a staggering 55,000), a specialty made with a secret centuries-old recipe. You can have them inside the large rooms covered with 17th-century tiles, or use the take-away service that provides special paper tubes holding half a dozen.
After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour at the Belém area visiting the XVI century Belem Tower and the XVI century Jeronimos Monastery, the incomparable monastery that exemplifies the Manueline style, a highly decorative form of architecture that emerged during the reign of Manuel I (1495-1521). The ambitious building reflects the confidence Portugal enjoyed when its explorers roamed the seas. One of the greatest navigators, Vasco de Gama, is buried in the monastery’s church.
For lunch we strongly recommend a genuine quality restaurant dedicated to good food. With a cavernous interior on two levels there you can taste excellent fish and seafood, quality meat dishes such as roast kid and the best paella in town.
You will be driven direction to Alfama, the Lisbon’s heart during Moorish times. The Moors (and Lisbon) have moved on, but the neighborhood retains an exotic atmosphere. You might stop at the St Georges Castle-formerly a Moorish citadel. The castle boasts panoramic views of the city.
The Alfama is one of the oldest quarters in Lisbon. Since it largely survived the earthquake of 1755, the area still retains much of its original layout. Adjacent to the Alfama are the likewise old quarters of Castelo and Mouraria, on the western and northern slopes of the hill that is crown by St. George's Castle. The city's legendary seven hills will also seduce you into admiring characteristic mosaic pavements and dazzling tiled façades, and will reward you with strategically-placed viewpoints offering breathtaking panoramas over the city after a ride on a charming old tram.
You'll find yourself wandering through colorful XVIII century squares downtown and getting lost in the medieval maze of the Alfama district overlooked by an ancient castle.
At the end of the afternoon, your driver will take you to your charming boutique hotel, located in the center of Lisbon, overlooking the city’s main square – Luis de Camões.
Housed in a recently restored XIX century building, this intimate luxury hotel brilliantly bends traditional Portuguese architectural elements with exceptionally refined contemporary furnishings and details.
For dinner we suggest one of our preferred restaurants in Lisbon, located at the entranceway of Bairro Alto. When its white doors open you will enter into a refined ambience serving a Mediterranean cuisine accompanied by a range of wines from far-off lands.
Lenght of the Tour: 8 hours (not feasible on Mondays)
Miles: Lisbon Airport – Hotel in Lisbon – 5,2miles (00h20)Includes: Accommodation at Hotel in Lisbon in Bed & Breakfast basis; Private Transfer from Lisbon Airport towards Hotel in Lisbon by Deluxe vehicle English speaking driver; English speaking expert guide transfer service for groups bigger than 6 people; Full day (8 hours) English Expert guide service; Transportation by deluxe Vehicle with English Speaking driver; Entrance Fee at Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery and St. Georges Castle.
Highlights: St. Georges Castle with panoramic views over Lisbon.
Dag 2
Your day begins when you are collected at your hotel by your chauffeured luxury vehicle.
Upon arrival to Cascais, meet your private Chef. You will venture on a tour to the Cascais market, while there is still a fresh sea breeze. The narrow maze of century-old streets opens up onto a splendid space lined with bars, cafés and fish restaurants on either side and market stalls down the center. While you stroll through the market, admire the vivid displays of flowers, candied fruit and seasonal produce.
You will have the privilege of being a guest at one of the noblest houses in Cascais, with the sun and sea always present, it was originally, and aristocratic residence dating from the XIX Century and now is a charming hotel located by the sea, the Cascais Bay.
This house of Italian architecture, also known by “the house of the yellow ceilings”, has a beautiful balcony with arches and columns facing the sea, which compose a true enchantment.
With a background education and entertainment, the proposed kitchen session allies the technique of a quality cuisine to the enhancement of the produce so that you can develop your passion or simple curiosity. Portuguese cuisine is simple, characterized by a rich variety of regional dishes.
Gathering herbs and produce from the local markets and pairing them to the timeless recipes, cooks of all levels can roll up their sleeves in the kitchen and prepare a variety of succulent Mediterranean dishes. Your kitchen sessions will be based on the format Do it Yourself. You will have the opportunity to “get your hands dirty”.
Under the guidance of the Chef and with the help of a booklet, you will see yourself preparing a recipe you thought were reserved only for the professionals. After you have prepared five different dishes you’ll be able to eat it, and drink some of our finest wines. Each one will have an apron so you can feel free to cook, without worries and at the end you will receive, further to the recipe a Diploma, proving your new skills. Good Luck!
Your journey continues to the quaint and aristocratic, World Heritage by Unesco, town of Sintra (where Lord Byron lived and considered it to be “Paradise in Earth”). Your afternoon will be full of castles and lovely walks, with the highlight to the Pena Palace, one of Portugal's most peculiar.
The district that is now covered by the Borough of Sintra has been inhabited by man for a very long time indeed. The privileged geographical and environmental situation has over the ages attracted and fixed settlers. Numerous archaeological remains, including prehistoric and protohistoric tombs, testify to its antiquity. Sintra has remained even nowadays the "noble town surrounded by many estates, pleasant woods with plentiful springs of excellent water", referred to by various old authors.
Before returning to your hotel, you will be treated with a wine tasting paired with regional cheese at a regional and rustic bar facing the main square.
Length of Tour: 8 hours (Not feasible on Monday and National Holidays)
Miles: Lisbon – Cascais – 18,7 miles (00h34) – Sintra – 9,3 miles (00h30) – Lisbon – 19,4 miles (00h35)Includes: Accommodation at Hotel in Lisbon in Bed & Breakfast basis; Transportation by deluxe Vehicle with English Speaking driver; Full day (8 hours) expert guide at disposal fro groups bigger than 6 people - Half-Day expert guide at disposal (4 hours) for groups smaller than 6 people; Private Cooking Lesson; Pre-set Lunch with Wines; Entrance fees at Pena Palace; Wine tasting paired with regional cheese.
Highlight: Private Cooking Lesson at one of the noblest houses in Cascais.
Dag 3
Today your chauffeur will drive you to Alenquer, located 30 miles northwards Lisbon.
Enjoy a private and exclusive journey at a wonderful and enchanting property, not only for its buildings architecture, but also for its beautiful vineyards. The surrounding landscape, with the Montejunto in the background, is what makes it really special.
This amazing wine estate is located in the surroundings of Aldeia Galega and it spreads over the sunny hills’ of Alenquer, a Delimited Region in the northwest of Lisboa. Its historical and excellent vineyards are known since the 16th century and have belonged to Diogo Duff, a brave Scottish man who received the "Tower and Sword" insignia, given by King João VI. Alice and Paulo Tavares da Silva bought the estate in the 1980s and made significant investments in its 45ha of vineyard. The introduction of new cultivation methods has allowed the family to consolidate the quality and reputation of their wines. The well known Sandra Tavares da Silva, their daughter, is in charge of the Oenology Department.
In an accompanied visit, you can get to know the wine making technology and methods used in the Quinta to produce the elegant estates wines, learning every step of the wine process. After understand how the wines are produced, see for yourself how they are stored during the ageing process that gives them some of their most typical characteristic.
Follows a private and lectured wine tasting, lectured by the responsible for the oenology department, Sandra Tavares da Silva, the daughter of the owners, or by the resident oenologist, so you can confirm the high quality of their product.
Sandra is making wines in both Estremadura and the Douro, which necessitates travelling between the two regions three times a week. But you get the impression that she thrives on the challenge. Since then her day job has been as winemaker for Christiano Van Zeller at Quinta do Vale D. Maria in the Douro, where she has helped to fashion some impressive, elegant wines from old vine Rio Torto fruit: both the 2001 and 2002 were among the stars of the vintage.
One job isn’t enough though: in 2000 she began making wines from her parents Estremadura estate. With their depth of fruit and fine structure these have rapidly established a reputation as being among the best of the appellation. Recognized by Wine Spectator, the talented Sandra Tavares produces outstanding reds. Her 2003 bottling, the Wine & Soul Douro Pintas (92 points by Wine Spectator) and the Quinta de Chocapalha Estremadura (90 point by Wine Spectator), respectively, highlight the level of quality she is achieving.
On an informal setting, the family will invite you for lunch at their house.
After lunch, your chauffeur will take you to explore the magnificent medieval walled town of Óbidos known as the ‘Town of Queens’ because of a tradition in which kings used to offer the place to their wives.
The town is stunning, full of well-preserved white houses with Manueline porticos and flower-laden window boxes; sinuous streets with romantic recesses; arcades and small squares. Look out for some amazing buildings too. Architectural jewels include the Misericórdia Church (15th c.), the São Pedro Church (18th c.) and the São Martinho Chapel (14th c.), the Paço Real (Royal Palace) and the perimeter of the castle walls, from which you can see the aqueduct.
You will be dropped off at your hotel in Lisbon at the end of the afternoon.
Length of Tour: 8 hours (not feasible on Sundays)
Miles: Lisbon – Alenquer - 30 miles (00h46) – Óbidos – 35,6miles (00h55) - Lisbon - 54,80miles (01h05)Includes: Accommodation at Hotel in Lisbon in Bed & Breakfast basis; Accommodation at Bairro Alto Hotel in Bed & Breakfast basis; Transportation by deluxe Vehicle with English Speaking driver; Full day (8 hours) expert guide at disposal for groups bigger than 6 people; Private Visit to the wine cellars and Vineyards followed by Lectured Wine Tasting; Pre-set Lunch with wines.
Highlights: Private visit to the wine estate and Lectured wine Tasting
Dag 4
Today your chauffeur will take you to a traditional and familiar cheese producing farm, located in the top of the amazing Arrábida Mountains National Park.
Declared a Natural Park in 1976 to protect the many species existent here and some of the areas can only be visited with official authorization. Walking through these mountains is an unforgettable experience - dazzling views of the coast and the contact with nature make this a place where you will want to return to again and again.
You will be lectured, by who knows cheese better than anyone, on all the process of cheese making from the pasture, to milk production and to the final tasting.
After learning all about cheese, your chauffeur will take you to the quaint Azeitão, where you will visit the oldest company in Portugal producing table wines and the Setúbal Moscatel (a sweet and refreshing wine).
It was founded in 1834 and at their museum - the old family home – you will taste some of their best wines, hosted by one of the house specialists, in the original wine-cellars where the table wines and “moscatel” are still aged in wood.
For lunch we suggest an excellent typical venue and a reference in the regional gastronomy! The owners João and António Amaral will treat you like special guests.
Their quality regional food and an excellent wine list will be served in a friendly atmosphere. João will lecture you on the wines you will be served while; you treat and delight yourself with the regional and delicious starters.
After lunch your chauffeur will take you back to Lisbon.
Your afternoon will be at leisure to explore the boutique stores located at some of the most traditional neighbourhoods in Lisbon, like Chiado and Bairro Alto.
Small, independently owned stores are still quite common in Lisbon, and salespeople are courteous almost everywhere. Handmade goods, such as leather handbags, shoes, gloves, embroidery, ceramics, and basketwork, are sold throughout the city.
Apart from top designer fashions and high-end antiques, prices are moderate. Most shops are open weekdays 9-1 and 3-7 and Saturday 9-1; malls and supermarkets often remain open until at least 10. Credit cards - Visa in particular - are widely accepted.
Although fire destroyed much of Chiado in 1988, Lisbon's smartest shopping district, a good portion of the area has been restored. The neighborhood has a large new shopping complex as well as many small stores with considerable cachet, particularly on and around Rua Garrett.
The Baixa's grid of streets from the Rossio to the Rio Tejo has many small shops selling jewellery, shoes, clothing, and foodstuffs. The Bairro Alto is full of little crafts shops with stylish, contemporary ceramics, wooden sculpture, linen, and clothing. Excellent stores continue to open in the residential districts north of the city, at Praça de Londres and Avenida de Roma.Length of Tour: 6 hours Miles: Lisbon – Setúbal – 30,3miles (00h42) - Azeitão – 8,8miles (00h19) - Lisbon - 23,8miles (00h39)
Includes: Accommodation at Hotel in Lisbon in Bed & Breakfast basis; Transportation by deluxe Vehicle with English Speaking driver; Full day (6 hours) expert guide at disposal for groups bigger than 6 people; Private visit followed by Cheese Workshop and tasting; Private Visit followed by lectured wine tasting at wine Estate.
Highlight: Cheese Workshop at family cheese producing farm.
Dag 5
Early in the morning, you will be collected at the door of your hotel by your chauffeur who will take you to the endless plain of the Alentejo region.
You will pass over medieval villages and cork forests, before arriving to the small white and quaint village of Igrejinha.
Marvel with the delights of a family business with 14 hectares of vineyards, mostly of the red strains.
Arriving at the estate, the owner* – an enthusiastic lady – will be waiting for you to host your visit. After a visit through the cork tree orchards, crowded with deer, you will have the experience of tasting one of the most exclusive wines of Portugal, produced in very small quantities and full of scents from the Alentejo fruits and herbs.
Lunch will be, al fresco, at the top of a hill, and you will have the opportunity to taste, further to their cuisine, some of the local olive oils and cheese, paired with some of their excellent wines, in scenery of tranquility, spotted by the greenery of the cork-oaks and vineyards.
After lunch, You will continue to Évora where your expert guide will lead you through a walking city tour, during which you will be lectured on the cities and local monuments history, like the Roman Temple, the Bones Chapel and the Medieval Cathedral.
''Evora is the finest example of a city of the golden age of Portugal after the destruction of Lisbon by the earthquake of 1755” Inscription criteria on the List of the UNESCO World Heritage (1985). Due to part of the town which being enclosed by ancient walls preserved in its original state and, to its monuments dating from various historical periods, Évora is included in UNESCO's World Heritage list.
At the end of the afternoon, your chauffeur will drive you towards your lovely Country house hotel located in Beja.
Fully integrated into the bucolic landscape of vast golden plains, this special country house, offers the genuine-ness of a ‘Monte Alentejano’ and the comfort and modernity in a unique fusion of design and elegance that appeals to the senses.
For dinner we suggest the Estate restaurant.
Length of Tour: 8 hours
Miles: Lisbon – Igrejinha – 82,5 miles (01h30) – Évora – 11,9miles (00h25) - Beja – 50miles (01h15)Includes: Accommodation at Country house in Beja in Bed & Breakfast basis; Transportation by Deluxe Vehicle with English speaking driver; Private Visit to the estate and Lectured Wine Tasting; Pre-set Lunch; Full day expert guide service for groups bigger than 6 people- Half-Day (4 hours) expert guide service in Évora for groups smaller than 6 people; Entrance fees at Bones Chapel, St. Francisco Church and Medieval Cathedral;
Highlights: Private Lectured visit and wine Tasting at Wine Estate
Dag 6
This morning explore the country house on your own.
Your private Chef will lead you on a private cooking class at the House restaurant.
Portuguese cuisine is simple, characterized by a rich variety of regional dishes and, under the guidance of the Chef, you will see yourself preparing recipes you thought were reserved only for the professionals. Your kitchen session will be based on the format Do it Yourself and after you all have prepared five different dishes you’ll be able to eat it, and drink some of our finest wines. Each one will have an apron so you can feel free to cook, without worries and at the end you will receive, further to the recipe a Diploma, proving your new skills. Good Luck!! And Good Lunch!!
Before savoring your own made meal, you will discover the world of Wines. You will taste the Estate wines and with an explanation of an oenologist, you will understand its mysteries, stories and secrets, its techniques, flavours and bouquets and the magic that it inspires on your senses.
After lunch you will be driven back to Lisbon. Upon arrival drop-off at your hotel. The rest of your day will be at leisure to relax or explore a little bit more of lovely Lisbon.
For dinner we suggest you a special meal paired with the typical Portuguese Music ‘Fado’.
Lenght of Tour: 8 hoursIncludes: Accommodation at Lisbon Hotel in Bed & Breakfast Basis; Transportation in Deluxe vehicle with English speaking driver; Full day (8) hours English Speaking expert guide service for groups bigger than 6 people; Lectured wine tasting at the Estate; Cooking Lesson; Pre-set Regional Lunch; Highlight: Cooking Experience at the Wine Estate.
Dag 7
According to your flight departure time, meet your chauffeur at the lobby. You will be driven towards Lisbon International Airport.
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