Lisbon Trip Overview
Day 1- Be driven out of Lisbon towards central Portugal. A smooth drive of around 2 hours on the motorway across scenic countryside. First stop will be the ancient city of Conimbriga which was the largest Roman settlement in Portugal.
After this another drive (a very short one this time) to Coimbra where we will have lunch, an overall look at the city and, visit 2 of its most iconic sites. Drop of at your hotel. Free time on your own.
Day 2 – More Coimbra and then the Bairrada region where food and drink is very much at the centre of attraction. Very high in the affections of the Portuguese is the leitão assado da Bairrada, suckling pig roasted and basted until the flesh is creamy and the skin develops a prerequisite crunch. It is to die for!
After lunch visit the Caves Messias winery where you will learn all about the great local sparkling wines and – of course – have a tasting! Time now to head back to Lisbon. I dare you not to take a nice snooze on the trip back!
Additional Info
Duration: 8 to 10 hours
Starts: Lisbon, Portugal
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Lisbon Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Lisbon, Central Portugal, Portugal
Day 1- Be driven out of Lisbon towards central Portugal. A smooth drive of around 2 hours on the motorway across scenic countryside. First stop will be the ancient city of Conimbriga which was the largest Roman settlement in Portugal.
After this another drive (a very short one this time) to Coimbra where we will have lunch, an overall look at the city and, visit 2 of its most iconic sites. Drop of at your hotel. Free time on your own.
Day 2 – More Coimbra and then the Bairrada region where food and drink is very much at the centre of attraction. Very high in the affections of the Portuguese is the leitão assado da Bairrada, suckling pig roasted and basted until the flesh is creamy and the skin develops a prerequisite crunch. It is to die for!
After lunch visit the Caves Messias winery where you will learn all about the great local sparkling wines and – of course – have a tasting! Time now to head back to Lisbon. I dare you not to take a nice snooze on the trip back!
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Roman Ruins and Museum of Conimbriga, R. das Ruinas 7, Condeixa-a-Nova 3150-220 Portugal
Set in the lush countryside southwest of Coimbra, this is Portugal’s largest and most impressive Roman site. Ancient Conímbriga was an important city in the Roman province of Lusitania and its ruins are extensive and wonderfully well preserved.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Se Velha de Coimbra), Coimbra Portugal
The Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Portuguese: Sé Velha de Coimbra) is a Romanesque Roman Catholic building in Portugal. Construction of the Sé Velha began some time after the Battle of Ourique (1139), when Prince Afonso Henriques declared himself King of Portugal and chose Coimbra as capital.The first Count of Coimbra, the Mozarab Sisnando Davides, is buried in the cathedral
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: University of Coimbra, Paco das Escolas, Coimbra 3000-370 Portugal
A centre of learning, par excellence, the University of Coimbra was founded in 1290 and is one of the oldest in Europe, and was classified World heritage site by UNESCO; this classification includes also the Uptown and Sofia Street.
Founded in 1290 by Dom Dinis, with the name of “Estudos Gerais” (General Studies), the University was transferred between Lisbon and Coimbra during the reigns of several monarchs until it was definitively established in this city in 1537, by Dom João III. Since then, it has continued to occupy the same building, the former mediaeval royal palace, acquired by the university in 1597 from Filipe II of Spain, who also ruled over Portugal at that time.
The subjects studied here were theology, medicine and law until the 18th century when the Marquês de Pombal changed the educational system and introduced other subjects. Today, the University has seven faculties – Arts, Law, Medicine, Science and Technology, Pharmacy, Economics and Psychology and Educational Sciences.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Mealhada, Mealhada, Aveiro District, Northern Portugal
Time for lunch. This region is famous for its roasted piglet and sparkling wine (both of which go together here). Founded in 1947, Rei dos Leitões is a traditional and stylish restaurant where you can enjoy the finest roasted piglet and choose from a wide selection of vintage or modern wines.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Caves Messias, Avenida Comendador Messias Baptista 56, Mealhada 3050-361 Portugal
Visit to cellars and wine tasting. Founded in 1926 by Messias Baptista, MESSIAS produces and sells high quality wines and sparkling wines from the main demarcated regions: Bairrada, Douro, Dão, Vinho Verde, Beiras and Vinho do Porto. Get to know the rich history of a company that has been written with wine for over 90 years and which is a symbol of Portugal in the world.
Duration: 45 minutes
