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Portugal & Northern Spain: From Lisbon to Bilbao
Lisbon - Porto - Santiago de Compostela - Leon - Burgos - BilbaoExplore the unique regional cultures of Portugal and Northern Spain, travelling from Lisbon to Bilbao, through the charming medieval cities of Coimbra, Porto, Santiago de Compostela, Leon and Burgos. These fascinating and diverse destinations reflect distinct traditions that have found expression in the art, architecture, food and wine of each region. The cities and towns share complex histories, from the occupation of the Islamic Moors to the Christian Reconquista, both of which have shaped the unique character of this part of the world.
Thanks to the importance of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Medieval times and the immense wealth brought back by the Portuguese and Spanish explorers during the 16th and 17th centuries, both countries are richly endowed with Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture. But you will be equally astounded by the abundance of striking contemporary art and architecture throughout the Iberian Peninsula, epitomised by Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum.
The tour is not only designed to incorporate visits to important sites of great art and architecture, the journey itself will play a key part. Encounter landscapes of dramatic beauty and variety, from the Atlantic coastal escarpments and rivers of Portugal, to the remote plateaus and plains of northern Spain. This will be a journey to savour slowly and enjoy fully.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
ITINERARY ...
Sat 08 September 2012 / Depart Australia
Suggested departure from Australia on Qantas / Air France flights via Singapore and Paris.
Sun 09 September / Arrive Lisbon
Arrive Lisbon in the morning. Check-in to your hotel located in the centre of Lisbon on the Avenue de Liberdade.
Dating back to its period as a Phoenician trading post around 1200BC, Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. The city is most famous for its maritime successes, particularly from the 15th – 18th centuries, including Vasco da Gama who set out from Lisbon to successfully navigate a sea passage to India in 1498. During this era Lisbon was the capital of an empire. A devastating earthquake struck Lisbon in 1755. The ruined city was rebuilt with a new grid street plan for the central Baixa district at its heart.
During the 19th century Portugal lost its empire and declined as a European power. Industrialization brought new economic wealth to the country in the second half of the century, yet political unrest followed by the lengthy dictatorship of Antonio Salazar, from 1926 – 1968, saw stagnation and cultural isolation envelope Portugal. Since the end of the dictatorship Lisbon has enjoyed renewed economic growth, freedom and prosperity.
Tour arrangements begin at 5.00 pm this afternoon with a welcome briefing with Brian Ladd and fellow travellers, followed by an orientation walking tour of the Baixa area, stretching from your hotel to the Praça do Comércio. On the way, pass the elegant central squares of Rossio and Praça da Figueira. Totally rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755 the Baixa was one of Europe’s first examples of town planning. Return to the hotel for a welcome dinner in the hotel. (D)
Mon 10 September / Lisbon
Continue your exploration of Lisbon, with a morning tour of the Alfama neighbourhood. The oldest district of Lisbon, Alfama extends down the slope from the Castle of Saint George to the Tagus river and has always been associated with Fado, the unique Portuguese song. Enjoy a spectacular panorama from the lookout of Graça, pass the Monastery of S. Vicente and the National Pantheon, and visit the Sé (Lisbon Cathedral).
Transfer to the nearby town of Sintra (approx 30 km), the favourite summer retreat of the Kings of Portugal. Following lunch, visit the 14th century royal palace, the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, in the heart of the old town, followed by a visit to the gardens of the Quinta da Regaleira. Late afternoon return to Lisbon. (BL)
Tue 11 September / Lisbon
Following a morning talk, visit the celebrated Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, to view its impressive and wide ranging art collections, spanning Egyptian and classical antiquities, European old and modern masters, as well as Oriental and Islamic treasures.
Continue to Belém, on the mouth of the Tagus River, six kilometres west of the city centre. Belém is recognized for its concentration of national monuments and public spaces, including a mixture of historical buildings and modern symbols of Portuguese culture.
Following lunch, visit the Torre de Belém (1515-21), the ornately decorated fortress in the River Tagus, from which many of the great Portuguese explorers embarked on their voyages of discovery. Continue to the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, a great monastery and monument to the wealth of The Age of Discovery, and a fine example of Manueline architecture of this period. Finish with a visit to the Berardo Museum which has one of the world's most acclaimed modern art collections, with works by Warhol, Picasso, Dali, Duchamp, Magritte, Miró, Bacon, Jackson Pollock, Jeff Koons, among others representing dozens of modern movements. (BL)
Wed 12 September / Lisbon
Morning visit to the picturesque working class area of Bairro Alto which dates from the 16th century and has traditionally been the city's bohemian haunt of artists and writers. Here you will visit the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, the Portuguese national art collections housed in a 17th century palace.
Afternoon and evening at leisure. Subject to performance schedules (to be announced May / June) it may be possible to attend a concert, opera or ballet at one of Lisbon’s many theatres or dinner and Fado show (not included in tour cost, additional cost applies). (B)
Thu 13 September / Lisbon – Coimbra - Porto
Depart Lisbon for a full day’s drive to Porto (320 km). En route, stop in the city of Coimbra, which served as the capital of Portugal (from 1131 to 1255) and has had a huge influence on the culture of Portugal since. Visit the renowned University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world and one of the oldest in Europe.
Late afternoon arrival in Porto. Located on a magnificent site near the mouth of the Douro River. Porto is an ancient port steeped in history and tradition. (BD)
Fri 14 September / Porto
Enjoy a full day tour of Porto. Begin with a walking tour of the historic centre, a feature of which is stunning interior and exterior decoration in tiles. One of the largest and most exquisite displays covers the Igreja do Carmo (Carmo Church). Silvestre Silvestri’s magnificent 1912 panel illustrates the legend of the founding of the Carmelite order. At the São Bento station around 20,000 magnificent tiles alluding to the history of transport and Portugal cover most of the atrium.
Continue to the Ribeira district, a UNESCO World Heritage zone of winding lanes, zigzagging staircases and tiled churches. The São Francisco Church looks like an ordinary 14th century Gothic and Baroque construction but has the most extraordinary golden Baroque church interior. The austere fortress-like cathedral has Gothic cloisters which covered with magnificent blue and white tiles from the 18th century.
Also discover Porto through its monuments by renowned architects such as Gustave Eiffel's Dona Maria Bridge, Nicolau Nasoni's Clerigos Tower, Rem Koolhaas' Casa da Musica.
Finish the day with a visit to Vila Nova de Gaia ('Gaia'), situated across the Douro river from Porto with a shared history of port-wine making. No visit to Porto would be complete without a visit to the terracotta-topped Port Wine warehouses for a tour and tasting. (BL)
Sat 15 September / Porto
Following a morning talk, visit the Soares Dos Reis Museum, housed in the formidable Palácio das Carrancas. It holds significant collections of Portuguese ceramics, paintings and sculptures from the 16th - 19th centuries.
Spend the afternoon at the Serralves Foundation, a cultural institution comprising the Museum of Contemporary Art of Porto housed in a striking minimalist construction of vast, whitewashed spaces bathed in natural light, set in a magnificent park. (B)
Sun 16 September / Porto - Santiago de Compostela
Depart Porto after breakfast and travel into Spain to Santiago de Compostela (190 KM, approx. 2.5hrs). Santiago de Compostela is situated in Galicia in the far north western reaches of Spain. Since the 9th century, it has been one of the most important medieval pilgrimage destinations for Christians and is the culmination to the ‘Way of St James’, the pilgrimage route. Legend has it that the body of the Apostle James the Greater is buried within the great Cathedral, which is the focus for pilgrims. The historic Old Town, with its old quarters and maze of narrow streets, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Afternoon walking tour of the historic centre of Santiago, which was Christendom’s most important pilgrimage site after Rome and Jerusalem during the Middle Ages. Visit the Convent of San Martino Pinario and the Cathedral which towers over the city and has welcomed pilgrims to Santiago since the 11th century. (BD)
Mon 17 September / Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela’s rich and renowned heritage has been increased in the last two decades with outstanding examples of contemporary architecture. The city spaces and buildings designed in recent years by Álvaro Siza, Giorgio Grassi, John Hejduk, Peter Eisenman, J.P. Kleihues or Gallego Jorreto establish a dialogue with the old buildings, giving Santiago a surprising new facet. A prime example is the City of Culture (CdC), designed by New York’s Peter Eisenman, a magnificent cultural macro-structure destined to become a ‘city’ of knowledge and creativity.
In the afternoon visit traditional workshops and see artisans at work using different materials such as leather, traditional braiding, silverwork and jet stone. See artisans at work which all share a common goal - reviving the traditional trades and materials of Galicia’s and Santiago’s culture. (B)
Tue 18 September: Santiago de Compostela - Leon
Morning at leisure to further explore Santiago de Compostela on your own.
In the afternoon travel by coach to Leon (350KM, approx. 4hrs). Leon is the former capital of the ancient Kingdom of Leon. It was an important pilgrim stop on the Way of St James and retains significant Romanesque and Gothic monuments. The imposing Cathedral, decorated with fine Gothic sculptures, and several other major buildings remind one of the city’s medieval importance. (BD)
Wed 19 September / Leon
Morning visit to Leon Cathedral, another fine example of Spanish Gothic architecture and renowned for its magnificent stained glass windows, and the Church of St Isidore, built into the Roman walls which encircle the city.
Later visit the Contemporary Art Museum of Castilla and León (MUSAC) by Spanish architects Mansilla + Tuñón which won the 2007 Mies van der Rohe Award, the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture. The design works to redefine the role of a museum with respect to its cultural context and the way people experience museums. (B)
Thu 20 September / Leon - Burgos
Today travel to Burgos. (190KM, approx. 2.5hrs). Burgos, on the banks of the Arlanzon River, is the former capital of the Kingdom of Castile and Leon. There are major buildings associated with the early monarchs of the kingdom yet its most distinguished landmark is the magnificent cathedral, whose lofty Gothic spires dominate the city skyline.
Afternoon tour of Burgos Cathedral. Founded in 1221, this great Gothic cathedral was constructed over three centuries and features the work of many European architects and artists. Also visit the lavishly decorated convent of Las Huelgas, founded in 1187. (BD)
Fri 21 September / Burgos - Bilbao
Morning drive from Burgos to Bilbao (160KM, approx. 2hrs). Bilbao is the capital of the Spanish province of Biscay. A Basque city, Bilbao was founded in the early 14th century and became a significant commercial centre with trade centered on the export of iron ore extracted from the Biscayan quarries. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries the city was an important centre of heavy industry, including ship building. This economic activity brought wealth and prosperity to Bilbao. However, during this era political movements to gain independence for the Basque territories sometimes involved waging war with the Spanish central government.
Begin your exploration of Bilbao with a walking tour including a visit to the Museo de Bellas Artes, which has a fascinating collection of old masters, Spanish impressionists, modernists, and contemporary art. (BD)
Sat 22 September / Bilbao
Today visit Bilbao’s newest emblem, the Guggenheim Museum designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry. The art museum opened in 1997, rising from the banks of the River Nervion behind stunning sails of titanium that have emphatically put the city on the cultural map of Europe. It is the European showcase for the modern art collection founded in New York by art patron Solomon R. Guggenheim. The museum also presents spectacular contemporary art exhibitions.
Remainder of the day at leisure to remain in the museum or take a stroll along the river. (B)
Sun 23 September / Bilbao (San Sebastian)
Full day excursion to San Sebastián (Basque: Donostia) located on the shores of the beautiful, crescent-shaped Bahía de La Concha. Here classic structures stand alongside French-influenced works in the style of the Belle Époque (Golden Age) as well as avant-garde and modern buildings that break with traditional aesthetics.
San Sebastián is well known for its public sculptures. The work of sculptor Eduardo Chillida and architect Luis Peña Ganchegui, el Peine del Viento (the Wind Comb) is a perfect example of beauty in its pure state. Other works include the lofty sculpture Construcción Vacía (Empty Structure), by Jorge Oteiza and The Memoria by Aitor Mendizbal, dedicated to all victims of terrorism. The San Telmo Museum is housed in a former 16th-century monastery with an attractive cloister. Visit the chapel, whose walls are decorated with frescoes by José María Sert chronicling Basque artisanship.
Join Brian Ladd and fellow travellers for a farewell lunch before returning to Bilbao. (BL)
Mon 24 September / Depart Bilbao
Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast. If travelling on the suggested flights, transfer to the airport for an evening flight on Air France to Singapore via Paris, connecting with overnight flights to Australia on Qantas. (B)
