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Portugal

Winter in Portugal for Women: Learn & Explore in Cascais & Lisbon

Program No. 25612RJ
Along with other women, explore seaside Cascais and nearby Lisbon. Learn about Portugal’s rich history and architecture, and savor its distinctive culinary and musical traditions.
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Start
Women OnlySmall GroupCity DiscoveriesNew
Length
8 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
2,449
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
14 meals ( 6B, 4L, 4D )
2 expert-led lectures
7 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Remember to bring your name tag
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from the Group Leader as well as local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 59 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles, standing at field trip sites; cobblestones, many steps inside monastery (208 steps), staircases without railings, no elevator.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will start the morning driving to Mafra in the Lisbon countryside. With our Group Leader, we will visit and explore the Palacio de Mafra, an architectural project designed to be a convent, palace, and basilica. This monument became popular thanks to the novel ‘Baltasar and Blimunda’ written by José Saramago, a Nobel Prize winner and one of Portugal’s most celebrated intellectuals. The novel tells a story set in 18th-century Portugal, during the construction of the Mafra National Palace. The palace, a significant example of Portuguese Baroque architecture, becomes a symbol of the era and the power dynamics of the time. Through this work, Saramago drew attention to Mafra and its historical landmark.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will return to Cascais after lunch. Arriving to the hotel, we will be joined by a historian who will give us a presentation on the history of Portugal and its people. Portugal was among the earliest of global empires in what is known as the Age of Discoveries thanks to its navigators and explorers. The empire lasted in some form for almost 600 years until Portugal ceded Macau to China in 1999. Though a little more than 10 million people call Portugal home today, Portuguese is the sixth-most natively spoken language around the world due to past colonization, especially in Brazil.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 34 miles. Walking up to 1.5 miles. Some steep slopes, many steps at Sintra Palace (200 steps), no handrails or elevator.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
A historian will join us at the hotel for a lecture on contemporary Portugal, the Salazar regime, and the activities of spies and refugees in Lisbon, Cascais, and Estoril during World War II. We’ll then depart by motorcoach along the coast with a stop at Guincho to see Cape Roca, the westernmost point of Europe. In Sintra’s town center, we will explore its narrow streets and later learn how to prepare Portuguese foods.
Lunch:
At the workshop, we’ll have the meal we helped prepare.
Afternoon:
In the afternoon, we will explore the Palacio Nacional da Vila with the Group Leader. The main building dates from the 14th century, while the wings were added in the 16th century. The interior contains remarkable decorations, including 16th- and 17th- century tiles. Sintra and its palaces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the palace, we will ride back to the hotel and adjourn for the day.
Dinner:
On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 43 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles in the morning and standing at field trip sites. Walking up to 2 miles in the afternoon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will ride via motorcoach to Belém. This district to the southwest of Lisbon was originally the shipyard and dock area, and the embarkation point for voyages in the 15th century that led to so many discoveries. The great wealth derived from Portuguese colonies supported the construction of exceptional edifices we see today. Our exploration of the Belem area starts at the Monument to the Navigators to learn about Henry the Navigator. From there, we will admire the tower of Belém and set out on an expert-led walking field trip featuring the Jeronimos Church and the Coaches Museum. At the church, we’ll learn more about Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Explorers Vasco de Gama and Luis de Camoes are both entombed in Jeronimos. The Museu Nacional dos Coches — National Coach Museum — preserves one of the finest collections in Europe of royal coaches built during the Baroque period. We’ll learn from our expert about these magnificent vehicles, the artisans who made them, and the distinguished riders they served. After the field trip, we will walk to the Navy Museum for lunch.
Lunch:
In the canteen of the Navy Museum.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll head out by motorcoach on a panoramic drive through Lisbon. We’ll learn from the Group Leader about the aftermath of the massive 1755 earthquake and how the city evolved as we observe the characteristics of different areas. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice. Walking up to 1.5 miles throughout the day; some cobblestones in Cascais; walking and standing in museum. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 22 miles, under 1 hour riding time between Cascais and Lisbon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. Public transportation is available between Cascais and Lisbon.
Lunch:
On your own to have the local cuisine of your choice.
Afternoon:
Join the motorcoach in Cascais or meet the group in Lisbon to visit the — Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation — founded in 1956 as a bequest from the eponymous British-Armenian philanthropist who lived in Portugal from 1942 until his death in 1955. Its purpose is to improve the quality of life through art, charity, science, and education. The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian holds one of the most important international private art collections that we’ll learn about as our expert leader heads our exploration. Later, we will walk through the old Alfama and go to a Fado restaurant for dinner.
Dinner:
At a Fado restaurant. As we dine, we’ll experience a performance of Fado, recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This multicultural synthesis of music, poetry, and dance is usually performed by a singer with guitars and sometimes other instruments.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time each way. Walking up to 1.5 miles throughout the day.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board a motorcoach and ride into the rural countryside to Companhia das Lezírias, a traditional Portuguese farmstead where olive and cork trees grow, wine is produced, and Lusitano thoroughbred horses are bred and raised. We’ll meet a local expert who will accompany us on a ride through the farm to observe and learn about everything grown here.
Lunch:
At Companhia das Lezírias.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll drive to a tile factory to learn everything about the process of making homemade tiles. Afterwards, we’ll drive back to Cascais across the 25 April bridge and have some downtime at the hotel. Later, in the hotel lounge, our Group Leader will lead a wrap-up session to review program highlights.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. Airport transfers beginning at approximately 4:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel, flight times permitting. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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