IBERIAN BORDERLANDS

The tour starts at 2.00pm on Wednesday 8 October, at Porto Airport (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport) for our group transfer to Guimarães.

The tour ends 8.30am on Tuesday 21 October, with a group coach transfer from Salamanca to Madrid Airport.

The tour commences in Porto Airport in the early afternoon, where we join our coach for the transfer to Guimarães. We check-in to our hotel on arrival before heading out for a relaxed orientation walk around the local neighbourhood. We finish the day with a welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Guimarães (D)

Founded in the 10th century CE, the town of Guimarães is proudly regarded by the Portuguese as the birthplace of their country and its historic centre has been recognised by UNESCO as an authentic and well-preserved medieval settlement. Today our guided walking tour takes us through the town’s historic heart, visiting the graceful medieval plazas of São Tiago and Largo Oliviera, and the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, a magnificent church built in Portuguese Gothic style whose origins date back to the beginnings of the city. In the Martins Sarmento Archaeological Museum we’ll see a fine collection of pre-Roman and Celtic artefacts gathered from sites close to the town. After a break for lunch we continue to the imposing 15th-century Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, abandoned and fallen into ruin before heavy restoration in the 1940s. The vast decorative art collection in the palace museum offers an insight into the lavish lifestyle the dukes once enjoyed. We visit the nearby chapel of São Miguel where Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, was reputedly baptised before returning to our hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight Guimarães (B)

Joining our coach this morning we make our way to Braga, whose history dates to the Roman settlement of Bracara Augusta. Renowned today for its beautiful Baroque architecture, our guided walking tour of the city centre includes the opulent cathedral whose 11th-century origins now blend with a fascinating patchwork of Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Manueline and Baroque architectural styles. After lunch in a local restaurant we travel outside the city to the hilltop sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. This lovely neoclassical pilgrimage church can be accessed via a majestic Baroque staircase zigzagging more than 500 steps upwards and lavishly decorated with fountains and statues but today we take the more user-friendly funicular. Returning to Guimarães we stop at Citânia de Briteiros, a fascinating site offering archaeological evidence of occupation in the area from the Bronze Age through to the Middle Ages, as well as panoramic views across the countryside. Returning to our hotel the evening at leisure. Overnight Guimarães (B, L)

We depart Guimarães this morning and head south towards the town of Belmonte in central Portugal. En route we stop in Vila Real in the Douro Valley, an area famous for its wine production. We tour the Casa Mateus, a fine example of Baroque architecture set amongst beautifully manicured gardens and enjoy a wine tasting of the local Douro wines, before travelling to the town of Viseu where we have a break for lunch. Vasco Fernandes, one of the most important painters of the Portuguese Renaissance, had his workshop in Viseu and we see many of his remarkable paintings, along with those of other notable Portuguese artists, in the Museu Grão Vasco. Continuing to Belmonte, we enjoy dinner this evening in the hotel restaurant. Overnight Belmonte (B, D)

Perched high on the slopes of the Serra da Estrela mountains, the town of Belmonte is dominated by its imposing 13th- century castle, the birthplace and family residence of navigator and explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral, credited as the first European to reach Brazil, taking formal possession of the region in the name of the King in 1500. Our walking tour takes us through the historic town centre, to the castle and to the twin chapels of the Igreja de São Tiago and the Cabrais Pantheon where many of the Cabral family are interred. After a break for morning tea we explore Belmonte’s rich Jewish heritage, which can be traced back to the 13th century. We’ll follow the narrow, winding streets of the Jewish quarter and visit the museum where the long and turbulent history of the local Jewish community is explained. The afternoon is free for individual exploration before we meet this evening for a talk in our hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight Belmonte (B)

Our full day excursion today takes us to some of the historic villages and fortresses on Portugal’s eastern frontier, many of which retain their medieval setting and distinctive architecture from various periods of occupation. In Sortelha, encircled by a defensive wall and guarded by its massive castle, we wander the cobbled streets of the medieval town and admire the traditional architecture of the granite houses. We stop for lunch in the unique hilltop village of Monsanto, built in and around massive granite boulders and little changed since the Middle Ages. In Idanha-a-Velha we can see traces of the old Roman town of Civitas Igaeditanorum and remnants from the Visigothic settlement and occupation by the Knights Templar which followed. Returning to our hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Belmonte (B)

Departing Belmonte this morning we continue our travels south towards Crato, stopping for lunch in the village of Marvão. Settled since prehistoric times, the walls of this beautiful hilltop village were built from stone pilfered from the nearby site of Roman Ammaia, still visible on the slope below. The village museum holds remains from various periods of occupation on the site dating back to paleolithic times and the imposing medieval castle offers commanding views across the landscape. Our next stop is Portagem, an ancient tower and toll bridge also built with Roman stones from Ammaia, overlooking a lovely natural swimming spot on the Sever River and offering views back to Marvão. Our final destination today is Flor da Rosa, a former monastery established by the Knights Hospitaller who were given the nearby town of Crato by King Sancho II in 1232. Built in 1356, the Flor da Rosa is a superb example of a fortress church and is considered one of the most important Gothic buildings in Portugal. Altered and renovated over the centuries, the monastery is now a luxury hotel where we check in with time to relax before we meet for dinner this evening in the hotel. Overnight Crato (B, D)

We leave Portugal today and head towards Spain, stopping first in Portalegre on the slopes of the São Mamede mountains. Situated close to the Spanish border, the town’s fortifications attest to its early strategic importance but, by the 17th century, any skirmishes had largely given way to the prosperous textile industry for which the town is still renowned. Today we visit the excellent Tapestry Museum, displaying both historic and contemporary works, and view the beautiful collection of paintings and tile panels depicting biblical scenes in the city cathedral. Crossing into Spain we’ll stop in Valencia de Alcántara for a break for lunch and visit one of the most important megalithic dolmen sites in Europe before continuing on to Los Barruecos, a protected natural area near the town of Malpartida, famous for its population of white storks. Arriving in Cáceres in the late afternoon we check in, meeting this evening for dinner in our hotel. Overnight Cáceres (B, D)

The ancient walls of Cáceres contain a medieval city whose fascinating blend of Roman, Moorish, Northern Gothic and Italian renaissance influences led to UNESCO World Heritage status in 1986. This morning our guided walking tour will take us through the historic centre, traversing squares once used for jousting and bullfighting but now full of lively bars and cafes. We’ll see the Bujaco Tower, one of 30 still standing from the city’s Moorish period, and wander through the picturesque Jewish quarter. We visit the outstanding Church of Santiago, a reminder of the period in which Cáceres lay on the border between the territories of both Christians and Moors. Amongst its many treasures we see the magnificent retablo, one of the last works of Castilian artist Alonso Berreguete, considered one of the most important sculptors of the Spanish Renaissance. Your tour leader will offer suggestions for possible visits and activities this afternoon, which is free for individual exploration. Overnight Cáceres (B)

Our full day excursion takes us to Mérida, once the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania and home to some of Spain’s most impressive Roman ruins. After a break for morning tea we meet our local guide for a tour of the archaeological remains including the magnificent theatre - still used for summer performances - temples, aqueduct, bridges and a triumphal arch. After a break for lunch and free time to explore we meet for a guided visit of the National Museum of Roman Art whose outstanding collection of art, artefacts and stunning mosaics is housed in a superb modern building designed by the prize- winning Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. Returning to Cáceres the evening is at leisure. Overnight Cáceres (B)

Departing Cáceres this morning we make our way to Salamanca, stopping en route at the Monastery of Yuste. Founded in 1402 by monks for the Order of Saint Jerome, the profile of the monastery changed exponentially when Charles V abdicated the throne of the Holy Roman Empire in favour of his son Phillip II and retreated to Yuste for the last months of his life. A suitably austere palace was built for him as part of the convent but most of the buildings were burnt down by French troops during the Peninsula War in 1809, or later demolished. The site was fully restored by the Spanish Government from 1949 and today our guided tour takes us through the lovely cloisters, the church, the emperor’s residence and the tranquil gardens. We stop for lunch in the town of Hervás, a charming small town whose architecture reflects its long Jewish history, before continue to Salamanca. The evening is at leisure. Overnight Salamanca (B, L)

Today we explore Salamanca, a beautiful city of golden sandstone whose university, founded in 1208, fills the city with a lively population of local and international students. Our guided walking tour this morning showcases the city’s remarkable Renaissance and Plateresque architecture. The latter dates from the 15th century, combining an eclectic mix of decorative elements and influences to create a distinctive and ornate Spanish style. The massive cathedral, the largest in Spain, is an excellent example of this period, although later additions have added yet more variety to its façade. After a break for lunch we visit the Casa Lis, which houses an exceptional collection of paintings, sculpture as well as art nouveau and art deco pieces in a light filled, Modernista style, stained-glass mansion. After our tour the afternoon is free to explore Salamanca at your own pace, but we’ll meet this evening for a talk in our hotel. Overnight Salamanca (B)

This morning we drive to nearby Zamora, a medieval walled city on the Duero River. The early history of the city can be dated back to the Bronze Age but its strategic importance during the wars between the Kingdom of Leon and Berber Muslims in the 12th century gave it much of the beautiful Romanesque architecture we see today. Our guided tour of the historic centre visits a selection of the many Romanesque churches in the city as well as the 12th-century cathedral whose excellent museum collection includes a number of important Flemish tapestries. After a break for lunch we travel a short distance north of Zamora to visit the early medieval church of San Pedro de la Nave, thought to date back to the 7th century and a fine example of late Visigothic architecture. The church was moved stone by stone to its current site in the 1930s when its original position on the River Esla was threatened by the creation of the Ricobayo Dam. Returning to Salamanca there is free time before we meet for our farewell dinner this evening in a local tapas restaurant. Overnight Salamanca (B, D)

The tour ends after breakfast this morning. At 8.30am, there is a group coach transfer to Madrid Airport, arriving in time for afternoon and evening departures. (B)