Little Angel Tours offers you 8 days of unforgettable full pension travel in the region of Porto and Braga with its surrounding villages.
Cultural Historical & Gastronomic Porto & Braga – 8 days
Flights / Full board / Transport / Guided tours
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The region of Porto and Braga, located in the northwest of Portugal, is located in the heart of a region with a very rich history, exceptional landscapes and beaches offering many opportunities for day trips.
It is a region located near picturesque villages and sites belonging to the Portuguese heritage that we will have the chance to visit (by mini-bus and on foot).
The region also offers a wide variety of restaurants. You will be able to taste different dishes every day of your stay.
See below the itinerary of the travel
Travel itinerary
Guided tours will alternate with lunch breaks and tastings of the region’s local flavours (in restaurants, local markets and renowned cellars). We will enjoy typical dishes, pastéis de nata (Portuguese flan), regional wine or Ginjia (cherry liqueur)… A dinner with fado singers is also planned to discover traditional Portuguese music.
Day 1: Sanctuary of Bom Jesus and the city of Braga
The sanctuary of Bom Jesus that we will visit from our first day is an architectural and landscape complex composed of a church, a large park, hotels and a century-old hydraulic funicular, the oldest in the world.
The Bom Jesus offers a real visual spectacle that rises to the top of a baroque staircase composed of 17 landings and 583 steps. Since the middle of the 19th century, the Bom Jesus has been declared an important holiday resort.
We will descend with the funicular and head for Braga, also known as the “Archbishop’s City” or “Bracca Augusta”, so called by the Roman Empire.
Founded by the Romans more than 2000 years ago, Braga is one of the oldest Portuguese cities. It is the capital of the Baroque period and has countless monuments, including Portugal’s first cathedral. It is a labyrinth of small streets that we will have the pleasure of walking through. We will visit the oldest cathedral in Portugal, passing through the Rua do Souto, the Porta Nova arch, the church of Braga Misericórdia, the old Paço Arquiepiscopal, Jardim Santa Bárbara, the arcade, the ruins and the tower of the castle of Braga.
Day 2: Porto, “The City of Invicta and Capital of the North”
Porto, a coastal city located in northwest Portugal, is renowned for its imposing bridges and its wine production that bears the same name.
In the medieval Ribeira district (on the banks of the river), narrow cobbled streets are lined with charming merchant houses and cafés, while the city’s modern districts are a sumptuous mix of culture and gastronomy…
We will visit Porto by mini-bus and on foot along the Douro riverside, which borders the city and the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will venture into its cobbled streets of another age whose buildings are covered with azuleijos (earthenware tiles). Boa Vista Avenue, Aliados Avenue, Torre Clerigos and the magnificent São Bento Station will be the focus of particular attention. We will also pass through the São Francisco church, renowned for its sumptuous baroque decoration with gilded engravings.
A cruise along the Douro river and a Port wine tasting will be offered.
Day 3: The city of Viana do Castelo and the village of Ponte de Lima
Viana do Castelo, known as “Princess of Minho”, is dominated by the Sanctuary of Santa Luzia considered as a replica of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paris.
The view from the church dome is one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Portugal with the northern coast of the country, the Atlantic Ocean. Viana do Castelo is located in a region of immense natural beauty near the wild beaches surrounded by hills and forests on the edge of Lima. We will have the chance to discover this beautiful nature.
We will also visit the city’s historic centre and admire Viana Cathedral, Republic Square and the Eiffel Bridge.
We will then head towards Ponte de Lima, the oldest and most floral village in Portugal, located on the south bank of the Lima. We will discover, among other things, pretty flower gardens, the Roman bridge built over the river, the old chain tower and the Santo António da Torre church.
The history of Ponte de Lima can be seen in its old houses, pretty squares and sumptuous religious buildings. It is one of the Portuguese cities on the road to Santiago de Compostela.
Day 4: Village/Nature of Gerês and the São Bento Sanctuary
The village and the natural park of Gerês will be the subject of an extraordinary discovery.
The Peneda Gerês National Park was created in 1971 on an area of 72,000 hectares. It is home to nearly a hundred granite villages that have changed little since Portugal was created in the 12th century. The oldest villages remain isolated from modern life. Herds are still being led along cobbled streets and wild animals still live in the most isolated areas.
A stroll in the park and a visit to the Gerês thermal baths will be proposed.
You will be able to take the time to enjoy the nature of Serra do Gerês, possibly buying regional products such as tea, honey, cheese and linen and wool products….
Then we will continue our journey to the dam and village of Vilarinho das Furnas, founded in the year 70. The latter was submerged by water in 1972. Sometimes, when the reservoir level drops, the village emerges!
After this incredible landscape, we will head towards the San Bento sanctuary, the second largest in Portugal after Fatima. This sanctuary offers an impressive view of the Serra do Gerês.
Day 5: Povoa de Lanhoso and Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ave and Amares
To start the day we will discover the city of Povoa de Lanhos, nationally recognized as the capital of watermark art.
Some pieces made by Portuguese silversmiths dating from 2000-2500 years BC have been found in Portugal. Also, we will propose you to visit a watermark workshop.
A speciality of Portuguese silversmithing, the watermark still holds an important place in the country’s culture today. In antique jewellery, the filigree is a piece of jewellery made of thin metal threads (gold, silver or bronze) assembled in such a way that they form an embroidery. This technique comes from the ancient period and was originally practiced in the East by the Sumerians of Mesopotamia. Portugal borrowed this oriental culture from the 15th century, then imported the riches from Brazil such as precious stones, gold and diamonds.
Portuguese watermark pieces are known for their high quality, uniqueness and handmade quality.
After this visit, we will continue our day towards the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Ave and the city of Amares for lunch. Finally, we will offer you a tasting of the region’s green wine.
Day 6: The city of Guimarães
We will visit the city of Guimarães, surrounded by the Santa Catarina mountain, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and European Capital of Culture.
It is in this city that Portugal was born: “Aqui nasceu Portugal”, an inscription in large white letters on the wall of the historic city centre.
We will immerse ourselves in the history of the country by visiting the Castle of Guimarães and the church of São Miguel do Castelo where the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, was baptized.
We will also offer you a visit to the Palace of the Dukes.
We will then continue towards the historical centre via Jardim do Carmo.
We will discover the church of Our Lady of Oliveira through the Largo de Oliveira, where we will be able to see, among others, the old Town Hall, the Chapel of Saint Nicolas and the Patron Saint of the Soldier.
Finally, we suggest that you visit the Alberto Sampaio Museum, a World Heritage Site that houses the artistic treasure of the former collegiate church of Our Lady of Oliveira and the convent of Guimarães.
Day 7: The Vila do Conde and Povoa do Varzim
The Vila do Conde, located on the bank of the Rio Ave (River Ave), passing through, among others, the Customs Square, the Santa Clara Aqueduct and the Palacete Melo.
We will continue our journey to Povoa do Varzim for a nice walk by the sea.
A visit to the fortress of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, via the Fontanário de São Sebastião, the Mother Church of Póvoa do Varzim and the Municipal Museum of Ethnography and History, will be an additional way to travel back in time.
Day 8: Breakfast in Braga, walk and departure for Porto airport.
Depending on place availability and local conditions, the itinerary may be adapted. These changes would always be made with the same concern for quality of service and in the spirit of the original programme.
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