Symposiums and Study Trips >Portugal:The Age of Exploration

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Tentative Program

Portugal in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries had a profound influence on world history and taste. Taking over the spice trade from Venice brought fame and fortune. Their daring exploration opened Africa, India, China, the Spice Islands, Japan and Brazil to the Europeans. Their tremendous wealth, exotic trade, religious fervor and adventure were legendary.

Our Decorative Arts 2008 European Study Trip will focus in 3 areas: Oporto in the north known for its early Braganza rulers and English wine connections; Coimbra with the famous University; and Lisbon, a world class city rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake and filled with extraordinary museums, architecture, and collections especially Chinese export. Nearby royal palaces with gardens and the Roman town of Evora are fascinating.

Visits to cathedrals and monasteries, private collections and craft workshops, the Vista Alegre (Mottahedah) ceramic factory/museum/shop and the Arraiolos needlepoint rug area enrich our itinerary as well as the usual nice hotels and delicious fare!.

Monday 20 October - Oporto
(Dinner provided)

am/pm - Arrive in Oporto at the mouth of the Douro River with independent transfer to the Hotel Infante de Sagres, Praca D. Filipa de Lencastre 62, 4050-259 PORTO; Tel: 011 351 223 398 500; Fax: 011 351 223 398 599

2:00 pm - We set out for an orientation bus tour of the city. We will see San Francisco and the modern Casa Musica recently completed by the noted Dutch architect Rem Koolhaus.

7:00 pm - Drinks and dinner in the hotel.

Tuesday 21 October - Oporto
(Breakfast and lunch provided)

9:30 am - We start the day at the Cathedral and the great Bolhao Market and then explore the strong English connections, visiting the 18th century British Factory House and Vila Nova de Gaia. We are here in the midst of the grape harvest.

12:30 pm - A port tasting at the Sandeman Lodge with lunch afterwards. Our afternoon in the Soares dos Reis Museum presents Portuguese Arts in the 18th century Carrancas Palace.

Dinner is independent.

Wednesday 22 October - Oporto
(Breakfast and lunch provided)

9:00 am - We venture north to the Minho area with early history adjoining Spain. Braga has always been an ecclesiastical center with an important Cathedral and the 16th cent. aristocratic Palacio dos Biscanhos, now the Museum of Decorative Arts, with terraced gardens. We move on to the spectacular baroque 18th century sanctuary, Bom Jesus do Monte, which celebrates the symbolic 14 stations of the cross in progressive stairways.

1:00 pm - A private lunch near Guimaraes at the Casa de Sezim. The afternoon at the Casa de Serralves introduces Art Deco, both house and garden.

Dinner on your own in Oporto.

Thursday 23 October - Bussaco, Coimbra
(Breakfast and lunch provided)

9:00 am - We are off with luggage for Bussaco, stopping near Aveiro to visit Vista Alegre ceramic Factory/ Museum/ Shop.

Lunch is at the fabulous late 19th century Bussaco Palace Hotel located in a former monastic arboretum under papal protection since 1632. Bussaco is the site of Wellington’s 1810 victory over the French.

Our afternoon walking tour in the town of Coimbra includes the Romanesque Cathedral (Se Velha), the illustrious University Library and the Botanic Garden established in 1772. Coimbra started as a Roman settlement, served as the capital of Portugal from 1139-1256 and installed the University (founded 1290) in the Royal Palace in 1537.

Check in at the nearby Relais et Chateau Hotel Quinta das Lagrimas, Santa Clara, 3000 COIMBRA; Tel: 011 351 239 441 615 Fax: 011 351 239 441 695

Dinner independently.

Friday 24 October - Obidos, Lisbon
(Breakfast and dinner included)

8:30 am - We leave with luggage for the Dominican Abbey of Batalha, a masterpiece of Manueline architecture- the elaborate late Gothic style developed under King Manuel I and unique to Portugal.

An independent lunch in Obidos with time to explore the charming medieval walled hilltown, formerly a port.

2:15 pm - Our early afternoon arrival in Lisbon will introduce the important Museu Arte Antiga, full of Portuguese and Oriental ceramics, furniture, paintings, tiles, metalwork, etc, all assembled in a 17th century palace once owned by the Marques de Pombal.

Our Sofitel Lisboa Hotel for 5 nights is located on the Avenida da Liberdade which connects old and new Lisbon. Hotel Sofitel Lisboa, Avenida Da Liberdade 127, 1269-038 LISBON; Tel: 011 351 21 322 83 00 Fax: 011 351 21 322 83 70

8:00pm - Dinner in a typical restaurant.

Saturday 25 October - Lisbon
(Breakfast and lunch included)

9:00 am - Following the great Explorers we visit the symbolic Belem Tower and the San Jeronimos Monastery, a Manueline monument celebrating Vasco da Gama’s successful sea route to the Orient and erected with “pepper money” from the lucrative spice trade. Continuing to the National Carriage Museum in the east wing of the Belem palace, one sees the acclaimed collection of European coaches spanning 3 centuries, simple to sumptuous!

Driving through newer Lisbon we lunch in the café and visit the Museo Nacional do Azelejos, a comprehensive display tracing the development of Tiles from the Moors to the pictorial scenes appreciated throughout Europe.

Free time and independent dinner.

Sunday 26 October - Lisbon
(Breakfast and lunch included)

Heading toward the coast, we will see the Palace in Sintra, a Unesco World Heritage site and royal retreat from the 14th to 19th centuries. Nearby is the 19th century Palacio da Pena, an eclectic summer house built for the German Queen Maria II and filled with curiosities.

Lunch and our last stop is the rococo Queluz Palace with its exquisite gardens.

Dinner on your own.

Monday 27 October - Lisbon
(Breakfast and lunch included)

9:00 am - We journey to the walled city of Evora, an important Roman site on the main road to Spain and a Jesuit center. We will see the impressive Romanesque/gothic Cathedral, the Roman temple and aqueduct.

A visit and coffee at a private Palace is planned.

The 15th century Monastery dos Loios, now a pousada, has fine 18th century tiles and will host our lunch.

En route back to Lisbon we will stop at Arraiolos where the needlepoint rugs have been made and sold since the 13th century .

Independent dinner.

Tuesday 28 October - Lisbon
(Breakfast and dinner included)

9:00 am - We leave to visit the Palacio Fronteira, a nobleman’s 17th century hunting pavilion and garden with spectacular use of tile scenes, topiary and water features.

Continue on to the famous Gulbenkian Museum for an independent café lunch and guided tour. Gulbenkian was an Armenian oil and arms magnate who amassed an amazing collection including ceramics, French furniture, paintings, antiquities, Lalique etc, which was opened to the public in 1969.

The final afternoon stop is at the Espirito Santo Silva Foundation where we see a major collection of Oriental and Portuguese Arts as well as and workshops of native arts and crafts.

8:00 pm - Our last evening dinner together is at the Restaurant Tavares, established in 1784 and known for its excellent food.

Wednesday 29 October
(Breakfast included)

am - Leave by coach for Lisbon airport.

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