Portugal: From the Golden Age to Modern Day

Portugal is having its “moment” and this tour includes a perfect mix of off-thebeaten-track places not available to the typical visitor and must-see sites. From our 5-star base in Porto, drive north for a wine tasting at a quinta, or wine estate, and private visits in Guimaraes, a UNESCO site and a beautiful historic town. See Porto’s Serralves Foundation and other major sites, coupled with a day cruise on the Douro River by private boat. En route from Porto to Sintra, visit the white walled historic city of Obidos. In the fairy-tale city of Sintra, stay two nights in an elegant historic palace hotel and wander the streets where azulejos, or ceramic tiles, decorate everything from fountains to palaces to park benches. Highlights in Sintra will include a visit to the gardens at Monserrate with Gerald Luckhurst, an English garden historian and author. In Lisbon, various experts meet the group, including a curator at the Berardo Collection and an in-house expert at the Gulbenkian Foundation. A farewell dinner is planned at a Michelin-starred restaurant with panoramic views over the city and a post-dinner performance of Fado. Customized for SBMA Members, this tour offers behind-the-scenes access and many special experiences.