A hilly city paved with cobblestones, Lisbon’s sights are best enjoyed from the comfort of a coach. This tour takes in many famous city sights. We can also enjoy the magnificent view of the city and harbour from Alto do Parque Belvedere. Rossio Square is the Piccadilly Circus of Lisbon, and here the mile-long Avenida da Liberdade leads to the statue of Pombal, who rebuilt the city following the devastating earthquake of 1755. We will drive by Lisbon’s oldest quarter ‘Alfama’, and continue on to the April 25th Suspension Bridge, which is one of the world’s longest suspension bridges, and connects the city of Lisbon to Almada. The bridge was built in 1966 and is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, due to their similarities (they were actually built by the same construction company). Here we can enjoy a superb view of the city of Lisbon from the comfort of our tour coach. After re-crossing the bridge back into Lisbon, we continue with a visit to the Church of the Jeronimos Monastery – a 16th century architectural masterpiece designed in the Gothic-Manueline style. Following our visit, we will walk to the western section of the former monastery, which houses the Maritime Museum – an obligatory visit for those who love the sea. The museum illustrates the history of navigation, from the Middle Ages to the present day, with miniature boats and larger reproductions, original maps and nautical instruments on show. Nearby, we will see the lavishly decorated Belem Tower, where Portuguese explorers were given a rousing send-off, and the Monument to the Discoveries, which was built in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry, the mastermind navigator behind Portugal’s voyages of exploration and subsequent wealth. As we return to our ship via Avenida Brasilia, we will see once again, stretching across the River Tagus, the April 25th Suspension Bridge and the towering Christ the King statue on the far side.

TOUR NOTES: This tour involves some walking, and there are a few steps to negotiate. Passengers can remain on the coach at any of the stops if they wish, although this is not recommended in order to get the most out of the excursion. Please note that should our call fall on a Monday, the Maritime Museum will be closed and a visit will instead be made to Ajuda Palace. On Mondays, the Church of the Jeronimos Monastery is also closed, in which case our guide will give an explanation outside. For reference, there is a walk of approximately 100 to 200 metres through the cruise terminal to our tour coaches.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2010 CRUISES