The Mezquita , Córdoba , Spain
EUROPE
Rancher , Andalusia , Spain Sintra , Portugal
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . Depart today on your overnight flight from the U . S . to Lisbon , Portugal .
DAY 2 • Lisbon , Portugal Arrive at the airport in Lisbon , where an O . A . T . representative will greet you . We ’ ll also meet those who traveled on our optional Northern Portugal : Porto & the Douro Valley pre-trip extension . Hotel Marquês de Pombal or similar
DAY 3 • Lisbon Explore Lisbon , including the Tower of Belém and the Avenida da Liberdade . Discover Baixa , an area in Lisbon that was rebuilt after the Great Earthquake of 1755 . Tonight , walk to a local restaurant to enjoy a Welcome Dinner together . Meals : B , D | Hotel Marquês de Pombal or similar
DAY 4 • Sintra National Palace • Cascais • Home-Hosted Dinner Leave the city to visit Sintra and seaside Cascais , and explore Sintra National Palace , a 15th-century palace where the royal family resided until 1910 . After , join a local family for a Home-Hosted Dinner in Lisbon . Meals : B , L , D | Hotel Marquês de Pombal or similar
DAY 5 • Rural Portugal • Évora Learn about azulejos , the ceramic tiles used to decorate church walls , palaces , and the façades of homes . We ’ ll also try painting some of these tiles . Then , visit a traditional artisanal cheese producer before transferring to Évora . Meals : B , L , D | Pousada de Évora or similar
DAY 6 • Évora • Visit local winery Enjoy a walking tour of Évora , an ancient hilltop town , where we ’ ll see the Roman ruins of the Temple of Diana . After , gather for a Portuguese cooking lesson . Then , enjoy time to explore independently . Meals : B , L | Pousada de Évora or similar
DAY 7 • Roman ruins of Mérida • Carmona , Spain Head to Extremadura , Spain , an autonomous Spanish province known as the homeland of conquistadores Pizarro and Cortés . Stop in Mérida , a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of Europe ’ s best-preserved Roman ruins , including a 6,000-seat Roman theater and amphitheater . Meals : B , D | Parador de Carmona or similar
DAY 8 • Carmona • Optional Seville tour Explore Carmona on your own , or join an optional tour to Seville , the Spanish city renowned for bullfighting , flamenco , and Don Juan . During the optional tour , we ’ ll discover Seville ’ s whitewashed homes , 2,000-year-old plazas , cobblestone streets , and the massive Seville Cathedral . Meals : B , D | Parador de Carmona or similar
DAY 9 • Ronda • Controversial Topic : Bullfighting Journey to Ronda , admiring views of Andalusia ’ s “ white villages .” Stop at La Cobatilla , a bull ranch , and tour the grounds before enjoying lunch on the property . Then , we ’ ll join the ranch owner for a conversation about a Controversial Topic : bullfighting in Spain . Bullfighting is a tradition , but the country ’ s younger generation views it as animal cruelty . Meals : B , L | Parador de Ronda or similar
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
Spend 2 nights at Pousada de Évora , a former monastery founded in 1487 over the ruins of an ancient castle .
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www . oattravel . com / wps 135