LISBON, PORTUGAL

Perhaps one of the most surprising monuments, and particularly beautiful when seen from the river, is the memorial to Prince Henry – the mastermind navigator behind Portugal’s voyages of exploration and subsequent wealth.

Our tour begins with a panoramic drive of Lisbon city centre. We shall make a brief stop at the top of King Edward VII Park, from where we can enjoy a spectacular view of the city and harbour. Continuing, we pass by Pombal Square, the famous Avenida da Liberdade (Avenue of Liberty), and of course Rossio – the meeting point and very heart of Lisbon. We shall also see the district of Baixa, an area entirely rebuilt following the disastrous earthquake of 1755. The final highlight of our panoramic coach journey will be the unique Comércio Square, located along the waterfront.

Upon disembarking our tour coach, we will have a short walk to the ferry station, where we board our boat to start the second and most exciting part of our tour – a one and a half hour trip along the estuary of the River Tagus. Here we shall discover the beauty and charm of Lisbon from the river. We first sail towards the medieval part of the city, where at the top of the hill stands the castle originally built by the Romans, and the 12th century cathedral in the centre of the Moorish district of Alfama. This area will make us feel as though we are taking a step back in time, and we will soon realise the importance of the harbour throughout the history of Lisbon.

As we continue along the river, our boat will pass under the spectacular suspension bridge, which was built in 1966, and will remind us of the Golden Gate in San Francisco (they were built by the same construction company). In the distance stands the monumental statue of Christ the King, built as a thanksgiving for Portugal’s neutrality during World War II.

We then sail along the banks of the Belem area, once a village around the 15th century new harbour. From here the caravels set sail for their great voyages of discoveries – no doubt the most glorious period of Portuguese history. Perhaps one of the most surprising monuments, and particularly beautiful when seen from the river, is the memorial to Prince Henry – the mastermind navigator behind Portugal’s voyages of exploration and subsequent wealth. Here we can also see the only two great buildings dating from the period of the discoveries and the rich reign of King Manuel I that survived the earthquake and show us the splendour of the city back then. These are the Royal Monastery of St Jerome, a masterpiece of ornate gothic style, and the unique Belem Tower, built as a fortress to defend the harbour of the rich 15th and 16th century capital of Portugal. Following our scenic river cruise, we shall return to our awaiting coach and drive back to the quayside.

TOUR NOTES: This tour involves an approximate 50-metre walk from the coach to the ferry terminal, and vice versa. The boat is boarded via a gangway, which is wheelchair accessible (please note that passengers must be able to board the coach unaided). Please note the gangway can be quite steep (a handrail is provided), so passengers should exercise caution when negotiating it. During our river cruise, refreshments (orange juice or mineral water and finger sandwiches) will be served. Toilet facilities are available onboard. For reference, there is a walk of approximately 100 to 200 metres through the cruise terminal to our tour coaches. This tour may operate in reverse order.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2010 CRUISES