All tours on this holiday have now departed. Future departure dates will be confirmed in due course.
Lisbon is one of the most under-rated and least known of Europe’s capital cities, yet is a wonderful destination for an artistic, architectural and cultural short break.
Join the Art Fund’s Nicholas Merchant to explore some of the magnificent sights in this beautiful, friendly and very approachable city – beautiful palaces, gorgeous churches, immaculate gardens and world-class museums, animated with his usual wit and verve by Nicholas with two talks and dinners and a series of visits.
Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Lisbon.
On arrival transfer to the city centre for check-in to your hotel for three night stay. Afternoon walking tour of the old town before welcome drink, talk – ‘Some Sights of Lisbon’ from Nicholas and dinner with wine at the hotel.
Day 2: Morning visit to the Palace of Frontiera,
with an afternoon visit to the Museo de Azulejos. This museum records the history and development of the most distinctive of Portugese ceramics, the decorated tile. Afterwards we move on to the Gulbenkian Museum. Housed in a striking modern building, this museum displays the collection of Calouste Gulbenkian, a man whose motto was “Only the Best”. Evening talk – ‘Later Palaces around Lisbon’ and dinner with wine at the hotel.
Day 3: Morning visit to the Museo Artes Decorativas,
a museum of Portugese decorative arts, housed in the 17th century palace of the counts of Azurara. This is a very comprehensive display of furniture, silver, tapestries and paintings, with the furniture, in particular showing English influence. Thereafter to the Fundaçao Espirito Santo, a unique and fascinating organization where you will see craftsmen being trained in cabinet-work, bronze-casting, gilding and fringe-making. These crafts, and others, are fast disappearing and so this centre is a unique opportunity to see them being preserved and encouraged. After lunch we go to the church of St Roque, a building of barbaric splendour, decorated with lapis lazuli, agate and ormoulu.
Day 4: By coach to the Museu de Arte Antiga.
This museum owes much of its collection of paintings to the dissolution of the monasteries in Portugal in 1833, but also contains spectacular French 18th century silver made for the Emperor of Brazil as well as furniture and textiles, sculpture and drawings. On from here to the enchanting pink baroque Palace of Queluz. Built for King Pedro III as a country residence, this delight sits in immaculate gardens surrounded by box-edged beds, lead statuary and limpid pools. Transfer back to Lisbon airport for return flight to Gatwick.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion
Please note that flight times are provisional and subject to change according to airline schedules.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.
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NOT INCLUDED
Hotel Mundial, Lisbon
The Hotel Mundial is a stylish and modern four-star hotel dating from the late 1950’s, in a city centre location. It has a lobby bar, restaurant, rooftop bar, restaurant and terrace with stunning views over the city. Bedrooms are very comfortable, all with private bathroom facilities, air conditioning, safe and TV.
Hotel Mundial Website
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