Coimbra and Oporto Private Tour From Lisbon

In this tour we should leave Lisbon early in the morning to get to Coimbra ( two hours driving ), begging the visit to the Joanine library already , built in the XVIII century on the former prison of the University, simply one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Its decoration was only finished, close to the eighteen century, on the ceiling the frescoes were executed by Mestre António Ribeiro and Vicente Nunes, and the portrait of Dom João V was done by the Italian Domenico Dupra. As Well as the library we will visit the ” Sao Miguel” Chapel, the “sala dos Capelos” between others. Tickets are not include, if the visit to the University its mandatory, you have to inform our reservations manager, to book the tickets in advance.

The “Baixa de Coimbra” situated, between the Mondego river and the city highest district, a pleasant sidewalk street where you can relax and get lost in this charming city narrow streets and beautiful alleys, and squares, you will find countless cafes, pastry shops and restaurants. Rich in culture and with an unforgettable gastronomy, this area has been the commercial center of the city for hundreds if not thousands of years, maintaining its genuine atmosphere and unique personality. Time to visit it, starting with the romanesque style 12th century Cathedral, followed by walk, where you can see the famous Arc of the Almedina and visit the Church of Santa Cruz where the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques (Afonso I) is buried.

In the Oporto downtown area or “Porto Baixa” the Avenida dos Aliados (Avenue of the Allies), is the city´s focal point, where everything happens, main celebrations such as; football victory’s or even new Year’s Eve its all here on this thoroughfare, the imposing Oporto Municipal Council building. At the other end, it opens onto the Praça da Liberdade (Liberty Square) where there is a statue of a mounted Pedro IV, emperor of Brazil and king of Portugal, a huge supporter of the Liberalism movement. In a show of recognition, the king literally gave his heart to the city after is death, now placed over inside the Church of Lapa.

Stores and cafes are packet allover, but the most impressive one is the magnificent Majestic a luxurious café located on Rua Santa Catarina, the most central place of the city, much more than a regular cafe, Majestic tells the history of the city. The Oporto of the twenties, the political intrigues and the debate of ideas, the Oporto of “Bélle Époque”, of writers and artists. In this lovely Street you will find several types of shops from the most international to the typical handicraft shops, not to be missed very close we have the Bulhao market a true traditional market, a great way to understand the character of these people.

At the Palacio da Bolsa, built in the 19th century in a neoclassical style and classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, we will found the ” Pátio das Nações” or the Arabian Hall, a characteristic feature of this period and decorative stucco in the marquetted floors and inlaid coats of arms and heraldic representations with the sculptures and screens of oils and frescoes of the great Portuguese masters.

he Church of San Francisco built in the 12th century, initially of Romanesque architecture was transformed into Gothic style and later Baroque, three naves covered with gilded carvings, in which it is thought that were used more than 300 kilos of gold, another one of the curiosities of the Church the Tree of Jessé, a sculpture of polychrome wood considered one of the best in the world of its kind.

Now its time to cross the D. Luis bridge, that will take us to Gaia ( the city on the other over bank ), where Port wine is being aged in hundreds of different cellars, according to our schedule we will stop and enjoy this atmosphere and taste this unique wine in one of those wineries. After a visit and a wine tasting of this “nectar of the Gods”, we end up with the best view of oporto through the Monastery of Serra d Pilar, because it is time to return to Lisbon.

The Cathedral of Oporto or Porto Cathedral, a church with a Roman-Gothic structure began to be built in the 12th century, however with several renovations in the XVII and XVIII centuries), inside it stands the medieval rosacea of the 12th century, and from outside the highlight goes to the lateral galilee, work of Nicolau Nasoni in 1736, decorated with tiles.