POST SYMPOSIUM TOUR

The following Post Symposium tour is being offered to all Symposium Participants.

POST SYMPOSIUM TOUR (Optional)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2000

C: Full Day Tour: OBIDOS / NAZARE / FATIMA

Travel to Obidos, a beautiful walled medieval town, with narrow cobbled streets, picturesque houses, ramparts and the 17th Century Church of Santa Maria.

Continue with a visit to Caldas Da Rainha, a spa which was founded by Queen Leonor in 1485 with a colourful market in the main square. Then, to Alcobaca, a former Cistercian monastery, built to celebrate the 1147 victory of King Alfonso over the moors at Santarem. The church is the largest in Portugal, holding the tombs of King Pedro and his beloved Ines de Castro, the "Dead Queen", richly decorated with Portugal's greatest stonecarving telling the story of this romantic couple. Visit the 18th Century kitchens with their monumental tiled fireplaces, and river water channel where the monks could catch their dinner.

Journey on to Nazare, (Portuguese for Nazareth), the fishing village so often portrayed in pictures, with flat-bottomed boats on the beach and fisherman wearing black stocking caps.

Visit Batalha, the Monastery of the battle, a gothic masterpiece with beautiful Manueuline filigreed stonework. Built to commemorate the Portuguese victory over the Castellians at Alljubarrota in 1385 by King Joao, it also houses his tomb and that of his Queen, Philippa of Lancaster and their children, including Henry the Navigator. The vaulted chapterhouse, which is nearly 20 metres square was an engineering wonder in its time.

The final destination for this tour is Fatima, a hill town, complete with a neo-classical basilica facing a square reputed to be twice as large as St. Peter's in Rome. This is where, in 1917, three young shepherds saw a series of miraculous visions, climaxed by a solar phenomenon witnessed by thousands. Pilgrimages are held here on the 13th of every month, with the most important observances being in May and October.

Rate per person: Euro 100
Departure from the lobby of The Four Seasons Hotel The Ritz Lisbon at 08:30 hours
Returning at approximately 18:30 hours.

- Rate is based on a minimum of 15 participants
- Rate includes lunches en route
- Rate includes service of an English speaking guide

This site was designed by