1. Óbidos/Nazaré/Alcobaça/Mafra Private tour from Lisbon (9h)
On this full-day tour from Lisbon, discover the heritage left by the Cistercian order in Portugal and visit the Monastery of Alcobaça. After lunch in Nazaré, a village made famous by its giant’s waves, discover Óbidos, a medieval village completely surrounded by the old castle walls and classified as a literary town by UNESCO. Before leaving, taste the typical gastronomy, chocolate and “Ginja de Óbidos,” a kind of world-famous cherry liqueur. In the middle of the 12th century, the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques agreed with the Religious Order of the Cisterians to build the Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Alcobaça (UNESCO heritage site), the first entirely Gothic Portuguese construction. Throughout the remaining Middle Ages, the Cistercian monks had a major role diffusing the young Portuguese language and in the development of agricultural techniques. At the abbey, since 1269 the first public school was established and also assistance and work for the less favored. Here, you will also find the remarkable tombs of King Peter I and Ines de Castro, a tragic and beautiful love story, now lovers side by side for eternity. Upon arrival, it is strongly recommended to drink a cup of coffee and try the famous monastic pastries at the Alcoa pastry coffee shop. After the visit to the Abbey, you will pay a short visit to SPAL Ceramics. Afterwards, enjoy free time for lunch at the fishing village of Nazaré, outstanding for its sea related traditions and sightseeing. Stanley Kubrik and Cartier-Bresson were some of the world famous photographers that lost their way photographing the village and its traditions. The giant 30 meter waves that Garrett McNamara surfed are also famous worldwide. After lunch, stroll through the narrow alleys of Óbidos, a medieval wall surrounding the village conquered from the Moors in 1148, and taste the famous Óbidos cherry liqueur, a cultural heritage from that era.
