Gardens and Palaces of Sintra and Lisbon - EBTS Exclusive

Depart London Heathrow at 12:00 flying to Lisbon airport, arriving at 14:40 on TAP flight TP1367.  We travel from the airport by coach for a brief sight-seeing   tour of historic Lisbon and then out to Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho with time to settle in before dining together in the hotel’s restaurant with local wines included. 

Today we are joined by Gerald Luckhurst who will remain with us for the duration of the tour, starting the day visiting one of Lisbon’s best kept secrets, Palácio dos Marqueses da Fronteira: originally a 17th century hunting lodge, it has been the family home since 1755. Both the intimate palace and the terraced garden feature some of the country’s finest glazed tiles - azulejos - representing different themes from battles to monkeys playing trumpets. The garden also includes an impressive Buxus parterre and we will hear about its upkeep and restoration during the visit. We then drive to Sintra starting with some free time for lunch then a beautiful private garden with coffee on the terrace followed by Quinta da Regaleira built between 1898 and 1912. Conceived by Italian architect Luigi Manini for the owner, António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, a man of immense fortune who requested his new home to be in the Manueline style - after King Manuel who reigned 1495-1521. This was the summit of Portugal’s supremacy at sea. Abundant sculptural decoration with vegetative and marine motifs are found in profusion at Regaleira. Some say that the gardens represent ancient secret orders, others that it is more a theatrical treat. We then take the forest road out of Sintra to Quinta de Piedade where, as special guests we are shown the formal gardens, and dine with a tasting of wines from the estate included.  Later return to Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho.

Today we cross the River Tagus to firstly visit Quinta da Fidalga that was owned by the family of Vasco da Gama and is one of the best examples of a model farm in the region, the formal gardens contain box parterres and beautiful azulejos. Then to Quinta da Bacalhoa, a classic renaissance garden with a Portuguese twist. Created in the 16th century by the son of Alfonso de Albuquerque, following a visit to Italy, he created a garden with logia, patio and tank garden flanked with decorated pavilions. Later, it was discovered as a ruin by the American Scoville family who fell in love with the azulejos. Here we are offered a wine tasting and light lunch. Before out return to the hotel dining together at a local restaurant in Cascais overlooking the sea we have some free time to explore Lisbon. 

Start the day at Monserrate, once an obligatory destination for Romantic Movement Grand Tourists following in the footsteps of Lord Byron who was inspired by his visit to the glorious ruins of William Beckford’s then home and extensive garden. Later, Sir Francis Cook embellished the original quinta and gardens. Recently, all has been carefully restored. We then travel to Palácio de Queluz for a simple lunch in the pousada de Queluz before visiting the palace and gardens including the tiled canal and the masterpieces of English lead sculpture by John Cheere.  We then return to Lisbon airport to check in for the 19:15 departure on TP1358, arriving at London Heathrow at 22:00.