A visit to Portugal
Wednesday, 12 to Saturday, 22 May 2010
Leader: Mrs. Bilaibhan Sampatisiri, Vice-President and Chairperson of the Travel Committee of the Siam Society and with the collaboration of Madame Maria da Piedade de Faria e Maya, Wife of H.E. Ambassador of Portugal
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Portugal is situated in the extreme southwest corner of Europe. Portugal occupies roughly one sixth of the Iberian Peninsula with a population of just over 10 million. To the north and east, a border measuring approximately 1,300 km separates Portugal from its only neighbouring country, Spain, and to the south and west, 830 km of coastline meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores are included in Portugal’s territory.
Portugal is one of the oldest nation states in Europe: its foundation in 1139 predates that of its neighbour, Spain, by nearly 350 years. The Romans, who arrived in 218 BC, called the whole peninsula Hispania, but the region between the Douro and Tagus rivers was named Lusitania after the Celtiberian tribe that lived there. When the Roman Empire collapsed in the 5th century, Hispania was overrun first by Germanic tribes, then by Moors from North Africa in 711. Military reconquest by the Christian Kingdoms of the north began in earnest in the 11th century and it was during this long process that Portucale, a small country of the kingdom of Léon and Castile, was declared independent by its first King Afonso Henriques.
The new kingdom expanded south-wards to the Algarve and Portuguese sailors began to explore the African coast and the Atlantic. Portugal’s golden age reached its zenith in the reign of Manuel I with Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India in 1498 and the discovery of Brazil in 1500. Eastern trade brought incredible wealth but military defeat in Morocco meant that the prosperity was short-lived. Spain invaded in 1580 and Spanish kings ruled Portugal for the next 60 years. After Portugal regained independence, her fortunes were restored by the discovery of gold in Brazil. In the second half of the 18th century, the chief minister, the Marquês de Pombal, began to modernize the country and to limit the reactionary influence of the church. However, Napoleon’s invasion in 1807 and the loss of Brazil in 1825 left Portugal impoverished and divided. Power struggles between Absolutists and Constitutionalists further weakened the country, and despite a period of stability from the 1850s, the debt crisis worsened. In 1910, a republican revolution overthrew the monarchy. The economy deteriorated until a military coup in 1926 led to the long leadership of Antonio Salazar, who held power from 1928-1968. The Carnation Revolution took place in 1974 and democracy was restored in 1976. Portugal’s depleted economy was gradually revived by an influx of funds through joining the EU in 1986.
Portugal offers a remarkable variety of landscapes and experiences for all visitors. Within a short distance, the scenery can change completely. It is possible to go from high northern pastures to rolling southern plains in a day and visitors will never be more than a couple of hours from sun-soaked shores on the mainland. Portugal’s capital offers an irresistible combination of ancient and modern sights. The city has a population of about 550,000, but the conurbation of “Grande Lisboa”, which has engulfed many surrounding villages, has nearly two million people. Portugal’s two major cities, Lisbon and Oporto respectively. Lisbon, the capital, is a cosmopolitan metropolis with a rich cultural life and many national museums, historic buildings, churches and monasteries. Oporto, known locally as Porto and Portugal’s second-largest city. Throughout Oporto there is evidence of the wealth that flowed into the city from the 15th century onwards. In 2001 the city, the historic centre of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, was the European Capital of Culture.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Bilaibhan Sampatisiri, Vice-President and Chairperson of the Travel Committee of the Siam Society and with the collaboration of Madame Maria da Piedade de Faria e Maya, wife of H.E. Ambassador of Portugal, the Siam Society will conduct trip to Portugal from Wednesday, 12 to Saturday, 22 May 2010. The itinerary will include visits to Lisboa, Cascais, Sintra, Óbidos, Batalha, Tomar, Coimbra, Aveiro, Porto, Minho, Douro river cruise, Castelo Branco, etc.
The tentative programme will be as follows:
Day 1: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 Bangkok – Lisboa |
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| 21:30 | Meet at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, counter check-in Turkish Airlines, Row U. Entrance Gate No. 8-9 |
| 23.35 | Depart to Lisboa by Turkish Airlines flight TK 61 / TK 1759 transit at Istanbul airport |
Day 2: Thursday, 13 May 2010 Lisboa / Cascais / Sintra / Lisboa |
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| 06.00 | Arrive Istanbul Airport transit flight to Lisboa. |
| 10.20 | Depart to Lisboa TK 1759. |
| 13.10 | Arrival to Lisboa Airport, drive along the coast passing through the coastal resort towns of Estoril and Cascais and on to Sintra, a mountain village - a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit the Pena National Palace. |
| - | Late afternoon continue to see Cobo de Roca, the western-most point of continental Europe and proceed back to Lisboa. |
| - | Dinner and overnight in Lisboa, SANA Lisboa Hotel or similar category. |
Day 3: Friday, 14 May 2010 Óbidos / Batalha / Tomar / Coimbra |
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| - | Breakfast at hotel. |
| - | Drive north to visit Óbidos, a picturesque village enclosed by a castle and the beautiful village gate which is decorated with 18th century azulejos (tiles). After that head for Batalha, visit the Monastery and continue to Tomar. Visit the convent of Christ and castle, one of the best preserved temples of the Knight Templars. Tomar was founded as head-quarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal in the 12th century and contains some of the most significant Templar monuments in Europe. |
| Noon: | Lunch at local restuarant. |
| - | Late afternoon proceed to Coimbra. |
| - | Dinner at local restaurant. |
| - | Overnight at Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas or similar category. |
Day 4: Saturday, 15 May 2010 Coimbra / Aveiro / Porto |
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| - | Breakfast at hotel. |
| - | Visit Coimbra University, one of the oldest in Europe and the first in Portugal dating back to the 13th century, keeping till today its academic traditions and the famous baroque Joanine Library.
After that proceed to visit Aveiro, "Venice of Portugal" surrounded by salt-flats, beaches, lagoons and canals with brightly coloured boats known as barcos moliceiros. Take a trip on the moliceiro boats and taste the local sweets “ovos moles”. |
| Noon: | Lunch at local restaurant. |
| Afternoon: | Continue to Porto. Sightseeing in Porto, Capital and gateway to the north of Portugal, located near the mouth of Rio Douro. Visit the riverside quarter of Ribeira, with its narrow streets, typical houses and picturesque life-style: it has been recently restored, now including some fashionable restaurant and bars, and taste a Port at Port Wine Cellar. |
| - | Dinner at local restaurant. |
| - | Overnight at Hotel Infante Sagres or similar category. |
Day 5: Sunday, 16 May 2010 Minho (Braga /Guimarães / Ponte de Lima / Viana do Castelo) Porto |
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| - | Breakfast at hotel. |
| - | Proceed to Minho region visit Guimarães known as the “cradle of the nation”, it is believed to be the birthplace of the first king of Portugal. Visit the old Castle on the top of the highest hill of Guimares then walking through the narrow streets of the historical centre to see the beautiful square of Oliveira (classified as a Heritage Cultural UNESCO site). Afterwards continue to visit Braga, known as the "Portuguese Rome", the country's Religious capital. On top of a hill we’ll visit the sanctuary of "Bom Jesus of Braga", with its magnificent Baroque staircase (with a story to tell on its artistic chapels). |
| Noon: | Lunch at local restaurant. |
| - | After lunch go to visit the lovely scenic town of Ponte de Lima, famous for its extensive Roman bridge and next to Viana do Castelo, the capital of Minho region is where the Lima River flows. The sea has always been the main reason for the city's existence: in the period of the Discoveries (in the 15th and 16th centuries), ships and caravels set sail from the shipyards of Viana to follow the sea routes to India and the Americas, returning with sugar, ebony, ivory and other exotic goods. A native of Viana do Castelo pioneered the sea route to Newfoundland in the North Atlantic bringing codfish to Portugal (nowadays cod is highly appreciated in Portugal). |
| - | Dinner by own arrangement. |
| - | Overnight at Hotel Infante Sagres or similar category. |
Day 6: Monday, 17 May 2010 Douro river cruise / Porto |
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| - | Breakfast at hotel. |
| Morning: | Full day Douro river cruise, discovering one of Portugal’s most beautiful landscapes through the Douro valley, the first demarcated wine region in the world. |
| - | Lunch and snack on board. |
| - | Dinner by own arrangement. |
| - | Overnight at Hotel Infante Sagres or similar category. |
Day 7: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 Solar de Mateus Gardens / Lamego / Viseu / Belmonte |
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| - | Breakfast at hotel. |
| - | Proceed to Vila Real for a visit to "Solar de Mateus". Here you´ll find the delicate Barroque style decorating a traditional building, whose façade is still depicted on the well-known Portuguese Rosé wine bottles. After that go to Lamego, visit one of Portugal's most important shrines, Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Sanctuary with its magnificent baroque style staircase and continue to visit Viseu, centre of the Dão Vineyards. Visit the Viseu Cathedral and the museum dedicated to master Vasco Fernandes, a famous 16th century painter. |
| - | Late Afternoon head to Belmonte. |
| - | Lunch and dinner at local restaurant |
| - | Overnight at Pousada de Belmonte or similar category. |
Day 8: Wednesday, 19 May 2010 Castelo Branco / Marvão / Évora / Lisbon / Fado Dinner at Casa de Linhares |
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| - | Breakfast at hotel. |
| - | Depart to visit the gardens of the Archbishop Palace in Castelo Branco and continue to visit the memorable village of Marvão. This small town stands at more than 800 meters high and is surrounded by the old castle walls from 13th -17th century. After that continue to visit Évora (World Heritage City, classified by UNESCO). A "rendezvous" with Portuguese history and genuine house styles from the South of Portugal with their white washed façades. |
| Noon: | Lunch at local restaurant. |
| - | Late afternoon proceed to Lisbon. |
| - | Dinner by own arrangement. |
| - | Overnight at SANA Lisboa Hotel or similar category. |
Day 9: Thursday, 20 May 2010 Museu Arte Antiga / Museu Artes Decorativas / Downtown |
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| - | Breakfast at hotel. |
| Morning: | Visit the Jerónimos Monastery / National Museum of Ancient Art and Decorative Arts Museum. |
| Noon: | Lunch at local restaurant. |
| Afternoon: | Visit Lisbon’s Downtown, the so-called “Baixa”. Visit Chiado a commercial and cultural centre then visit St. George Castle, and its surrounding quarter. This section of Lisbon has kept its tradition of a small village within a big city, and visit Alfama, Lisbon's oldest quarter. |
| - | Fado Dinner at Casa de Linhares. |
| - | Overnight at SANA Lisboa Hotel or similar category. |
Day 10: Friday, 21 May 2010 Lisboa / Gulbenkian Museum and transfer to airport |
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| - | Breakfast at hotel. |
| Morning: | Visit Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. |
| 11:00 | Transfer to airport. |
| 14:10 | Depart to Istanbul / Bangkok by Turkish Airlines flight TK 1760. |
| 20.35 | Arrive Istanbul airport change flight to be TK 60. |
| 23.35 | Depart to Bangkok. |
Day 11: Saturday, 22 May 2010 Bangkok |
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| 13.05 | Arrive Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Intl. Airport |
Booking
B 170,500 or B 172,500 for non-members. Single room surcharge B 28,000. There is a 3% surcharge for credit/debit card payment to cover bank charges. A non-refundable deposit of B 20,000 must accompany the booking. Payment in full is required one month before the start of the trip (i.e. by Saturday, 10 April 2010). Please pay by cash or cheque payable to ‘The Siam Society’. Alternatively you can deposit/transfer the money to the Siam Society travel account at the Thai Military Bank, Asoke Branch saving account no. 053-2-18000-7. Please fax or e-mail the deposit or transfer docket to us.
Includes/Excludes:
The contribution includes airfare, airport transfers, 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners, accommodation for two persons per room, sightseeing as mentioned in the programme and other costs incurred to make this trip possible. It excludes visa fee (if any), 3 dinners, personal expenses, tips to driver and porter, etc.
Cancellation charge:
Cancellation after booking: Deposit forfeited
29-15 days of the start of the trip: 30% of the tour cost
14-10 days of the start of the trip: 50% of the tour cost
Less than 10 days or cancellation without notice: No refund
The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary. Seats are limited. Please book your place as soon as possible.
For further information and bookings please contact Khun Prasert (ext. 504) or Khun Ekkarin (ext. 506) on 0 2661 6470-7, fax 0 2258 3491 or e-mail: info@siam-society.org. Office hours: 9:00am.–5:00pm. Tuesday–Saturday (except holidays).