A Tale of Two Cities in Iberia | 11-day food and culture tour reference in Portugal and Andalusia
Core of the trip:
① Feel the two customs of Portugal: experience the urban vitality in Lisbon and the pastoral poetry in Alentejo.
② With a soothing rhythm, roam Andalusia, Spain in depth for 6 days; Classic landmarks and exclusive visits.
③ Take a tricycle combined with hiking, walk through the streets of the old city of Lisbon, and enjoy lunch at the local neighborhood family restaurant.
④ Visit two wineries with different styles in Alentejo and experience wine tasting.
⑤ Under the guidance of a local guide, visit the most authentic Tapas restaurant in Seville; Enjoy an authentic flamenco dance.
Fly to Lisbon, pick up by car to the hotel.
Meals: None
Have lunch at noon in a family restaurant hidden in a residential area (diners are mostly neighbors). In the afternoon, combine a Tuk-Tuk tricycle ride with a walk to visit the old town of Alfama in Lisbon, and finally overlook the panoramic view of the city from the observation deck of St. George Castle.
○ Chapel of St. Francis Church decorated with human bones
○ Plaza Girardo, the site of the 16 th century Portuguese Inquisition
○ The University of Évora, built in the 16 th century, combines Renaissance and Baroque styles
○ Lunch with authentic Alentejo cuisine in a traditional bistro
Finally, stay at a boutique hotel on the border between Spain and Portugal, transformed from a rural farm, surrounded by vineyards, olive trees and holy oak forests.
Accommodation: Select design hotels
First of all, visit the medieval village of Monsarash. Besides the ancient castle and church, its mural museum and the ruins of the Inquisition are also worth exploring.
Then take an approximately 1-hour ride to one of Portugal’s most prestigious wine regions-Estremos. Each winery here has a distinct personality. We will select two wineries with different styles for tasting, visit vineyards and wine cellars, and enjoy lunch with local ham and cheese.
Return to the hotel in the afternoon to enjoy leisurely time.
Day 5: Travel to Seville, food visit
It takes about 3 hours to cross the border and arrive in Seville, the capital of Andalusia, Spain.
Seville It is one of the cities with the largest number of pubs per capita in the world. Without the guidance of local people, it is difficult to find the most authentic Tapas restaurant. In the evening, follow a local guide through taverns and taste special delicacies such as Iberian ham, cheese and traditional roast pork named “Pinchito”. Each tapas will be paired with the most suitable indigenous wine or Jerez’s famous sherry.
In addition, as the birthplace of flamenco, the guide will recommend a small performance venue avoiding tourists for you to enjoy a passionate and deep flamenco dance (at your own expense).
Dining: Breakfast, Dinner
accommodation : Cavalta Boutique Hotel
Day 6 Exploration of Jerez Region
Today, visit Jerez, which is sparsely visited. This land was ruled by ancient Romans and Moors, and was once regarded as the border of civilization. We will visit two ancient cities in the area, visit the ancient Moorish castle and Christian church; Lunch at noon at an authentic Tapas restaurant with sherry.
Cordoba was once the glorious capital of the Muslim Umayyad dynasty, and became the second largest city in Europe in the 10 th century. The Mosque Cathedral of Cordoba, which was built in the 8 th century, still remains. The ruins of Roman temples, mosques and Christian churches are stacked here and clearly visible.
Enjoy leisurely time at the hotel in the morning. Afternoon visit The Alhambra, This complex of lush gardens and exquisite palaces, with gurgling water and walls decorated with geometric and floral patterns, is like a reappearance of the Garden of Eden. The guide will interpret the secrets contained in it: mathematical achievements, philosophical ideas and poetic metaphors engraved on the walls.
Dining: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hospes Palacio de los Patos
According to the flight time, a special bus will take you to Malaga Airport, and the trip will be successfully concluded. If you have plenty of holidays, you can extend to explore other parts of Spain. Malaga itself is also a pleasant seaside resort, and its interior also hides many charming mountain villages and hiking trails waiting to be explored.
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