JOIN/RENEW

Portugal: The Edge of the Old World

STUDY TRIP ABROAD

March 2–11 & 16–25, 2024

 

OPTIONAL EXTENSION

THE AZORES: JEWELS OF THE ATLANTIC 

March 11–15, 2024

Our exploration of Portugal stretches between the great port cities of Lisbon and Porto. Bound by the Atlantic to the west and Iberian Peninsula to the east, the nation’s history links broader European ties with those of oceanic exploration. With colonies in Asia and South America, this small country’s impressive reach resulted in one of the longest lasting European empires and garnered significant economic growth, readily seen in its present-day architectural and artistic legacies. Our Study Trip Abroad combines bespoke visits to key historic sites and museums with privileged access to private houses, while also featuring splendid cuisine and viticulture, expected from a country that blends land and sea. 

There is limited space available for this program. Please contact ccarlisle@decorativeartstrust.org to register. 

ITINERARY  (subject to amendment)

March 2 and 16

Old World charm abounds in Portugal’s second-largest metropolis, Porto, where cobbled streets, merchant houses, and cafés line the stately Douro riverfront. We gather at the elegant Hotel Infante Sagres before venturing out for an orientation tour that includes revered landmarks, such as the São Bento Station, the Igreja de São Francisco, and the Palácio da Bolsa. An introductory lecture and welcome drinks and dinner await us back at the hotel.

Included: R, D 
Overnight: Porto 

March 3 and 17

A stop in Braga starts a day of exploration in Portugal’s northern reaches. Regarded as the country’s religious center, the city’s Museu dos Biscaínhos, an 18th-century residence built for a noble family, now serves as a municipal museum filled with ceramics and furnishings dating to the 17th through 19th centuries. An elaborate zig-zag stairway leads to the remarkable hilltop Bom Jesus Catholic shrine. We then continue to Ponte de Lima for lunch and a tasting of the region’s famed Vinho Verde wine at Paço de Calheiros before touring the town’s Medieval center.

Included: B, L 
Overnight: Porto 

March 4 and 18 

The Portuguese consider the exceptionally well-preserved Medieval city of Guimarães to be the birthplace of their country. The rich collections of the Paço dos Duques de Bragança, a 15th-century ducal palace in the city center, provide sustenance prior to lunch at the privately owned manor home of Casa de Sezim. Returning to Porto, we receive a visual shakeup at the pink 1930s Art Deco mansion of Casa de Serralves, an example of Streamline Moderne designed by architect Jose Marques da Silva. Our day concludes with a cruise on the Douro River and a special after-hours visit and dinner at the British Factory House, the 18th century Palladian building designed by English consul John Whitehead for British businessmen who desired an appropriate atmosphere in which to conduct trade. 

Included: B, L, D 
Overnight: Porto 

March 5 and 19 

We leave Porto and venture south to the Medieval riverfront city of Coimbra for lunch and a tour of the Machado de Castro Museum, a former Bishop’s palace built over Roman ruins, now housing an encyclopedic art collection spanning 2,000 years. We walk to the sumptuous 18th-century Biblioteca Joanina, built to house the book collection of the University of Coimbra. With patterned stone floors and plaster ceilings decorated with allegorical trompe-l’oeil paintings, the library is considered one of the richest in Europe. The day concludes in Sintra, where the cooling hills of the Serra de Sintra meet whimsical palaces and the ruins of a 10th-century Moorish castle. We are welcomed at the stylish NH Hotel Sintra Centro for a relaxed dinner before retiring to our tranquil accommodations.

Included: B, L, D
Overnight: Sintra 

March 6 and 20 

Palácio de Monserrate is Portugal’s best example of 19th-century eclectic architecture, combining Gothic and Moorish Revival elements, topped by a dome inspired by the Duomo in Florence. A succession of wealthy Englishmen transformed the house and gardens to suit their tastes, resulting in a fascinating architectural and botanical site. Upon returning to Sintra, we encounter the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, the best-preserved Medieval royal residence in Portugal. Its conical chimneys and rooms filled with remarkable tile decoration embody a unique blend of Gothic and Moorish styles. Our afternoon is one of private access. We are welcomed at the 18th-century Quinta de São Sebastião estate for lunch and then a tour of the 17th-century Quinta da Alegria, sitting on the edge of historic Sintra.

Included: B, L
Overnight: Sintra 

March 7 and 21 

We set off for Lisbon along Portugal’s coastal roadways, taking in the south’s dramatic limestone cliffs and the aqua-tinted water along the alluring beaches. Upon arrival, we are treated to a special entry at the Palácio dos Santos (today the French Embassy), famed for its elaborate frescoes and a pyramidal ceiling clad in blue-and-white Chinese porcelain plates. An orientation stroll through Lisbon’s Chiado district precedes lunch. We continue for special visits at the Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva Foundation, which contains a museum showcasing an exceptional assemblage of decorative arts and a workshop promoting traditional craft techniques. After checking into our gracious accommodations at the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade, located in the heart of Lisbon, an after-hours exploration of the splendid decorative arts collection at the Medeiros e Almeida Foundation caps off a special day.

Included: B, L 
Overnight: Lisbon 

March 8 and 22 

The Monastery of San Jeronimos in Belem is one of the most impressive symbols of Portugal’s power and wealth during the Age of Discovery, a 16th-century architectural masterpiece admired since its construction during the reign of King Manuel I. The Museu do Tesouro Real holds collections from the Royal Treasury, while the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga contains the nation’s most important art holdings, ranging from paintings to sculpture to decorative arts from Europe, Africa, and Asia. An independent afternoon precedes a special evening with dinner accompanied by a traditional fado performance. 

Included: B, D
Overnight: Lisbon 

March 9 and 23 

The privately owned Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira lends an impressive setting to the start of our day. Originally constructed as a 17th-century summer house for the first Marquis of Fronteira, Dom João Mascarenhas, and his wife, it includes the largest collection of tiles preserved in situ. We venture next to the picturesque town of Azeitão where the 18th-century estate of Quinta das Machadas is nestled among vineyards, olive groves, and cork trees. Lunch in the manor house is followed by a visit to the Palácio da Bacalhôa, where the rustic exterior of the Renaissance-era house strikes a remarkable contrast to the surrounding labyrinth of verdant gardens and grape vines. 

Included: B, L 
Overnight: Lisbon 

March 10 and 24 

Perched on the outskirts of Lisbon, Queluz is home to the exuberant Palácio de Queluz, an 18th-century pleasure palace built for the Portuguese royal family. Its Rococo extravagance—from the elaborately carved exterior façade to rooms decked in polychrome tiles, mirrors, and gilding—is representative of the lavish period of Portuguese architectural history that followed the discovery of Brazilian gold in 1690. Our final day in Portugal closes at Lisbon’s celebrated Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, where a wide-ranging and beautifully displayed collection provides the most enjoyable museum-going experience in Iberia. We close with a celebratory farewell dinner at Palácio do Chiado.  

Included: B, L, D
Overnight: Lisbon 

March 11 and 25

Members depart from the Lisbon airport for stateside departures or continue to the Azores for the Optional Extension (Tour 1 only).

Included: B 

OPTIONAL EXTENSION   The Azores: Jewels of the Atlantic

March 11

Departing Lisbon, participants fly west over the Atlantic to the Azores, arriving in Ponta Delgada, the regional capital on São Miguel, the largest in the chain of nine islands. After settling into the charming Grand Hotel Açores, we set off on an orientation tour. The impressive architecture and cobbled streets recall the port’s important position between Europe and empirical conquests in the New World. The Jardim José do Canto is named for an innovative and renowned botanist and promoter of new agricultural practices. We enjoy a convivial dinner back at the hotel.

Included: R, D
Overnight: Ponta Delgada 

March 12 

Our exploration of Ponta Delgada continues with a morning visit to the Museu Carlos Machado in the former monastery of Santo André, where the historic genre scenes of Azorean life are of particular interest. The Palácio Sant’Ana, the headquarters of the Regional Government of the Azores, contains 18th- and 19th-century decorative arts and a superb garden. Crossing to Capelas on the north side of the island we are welcomed at the Quinta da Vista Alegre vineyard by Maria Joao Menezes for lunch and a tour. The immense convent and chapel of Nossa Senhora da Esperança contains a splendid treasury and a choir with colorful 18th-century tilework by Oliveira Bernardes. 

Included: B, L 
Overnight: Ponta Delgada 

March 13 

Heading east for the resort area of Furnas, we admire the geothermal power of the Azores through the hot springs that provide the water and mud for spa treatments. We visit the Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias, built on the edge of Furnas Lake by gentleman farmer José do Canto as the final resting place for his beloved wife. Inaugurated in 1886, the Neo-Gothic-Romanesque church was inspired by the seminary church in Angers, France, and was built out of local materials by stonemasons. Its stained glass windows and azulejo tiles are exceptional. We venture next to the center of Furnas for lunch and an afternoon taking in the botanical variety of this attractive destination. The Boston merchant Thomas Hickling laid out the gardens that now constitute the Parque Terra Nostra with an impressive collection of botanical specimens.  

Included: B, L 
Overnight: Ponta Delgada 

March 14 

We set westward for the ecologically fascinating twin lakes of Lagoa das Sete Cidades, located in the crater of a dormant volcano. Situated on the southwestern shore of Azul Lake is the privately-owned garden Pitoresco, which retains and protects old wood that survived the destruction of forested areas in the mid-20th century. Ricardo Rodrigues welcomes us for lunch and a tour at Solar da Maforma, his 18th-century manor house in Ribeira Seca. Continuing to Ribeira Grande, we explore the Arquipélago Arts Center, an important venue for cultural exchange in the Azores. Following some time at leisure back in Ponta Delgada, we gather for a festive dinner at a highly regarded restaurant. 

Included: B, L, D
Overnight: Ponta Delgada 

March 15

Guests depart for return flights or continue to Tour 2. 

TERMS & CONDITIONS 

Land Arrangement Cost: $8,225 per person, based on double occupancy for 9 nights. For the Optional Extension, $2,725 per person, based on double occupancy for 4 nights.

Included in Trip Cost: Hotel accommodations in 4-and 5-star hotels, 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 1 reception, and 5 dinners. Private coach transportation, local guides, admission in museums, historic houses, and gardens, gratuities for professional guides and coach drivers, and porterage.

Not Included in the Trip Cost: Airfare, airport transfers other than specified above, alcoholic beverages other than when provided, personal expenses, and trip insurance are not included. Transatlantic airfare is not included. Please do not make your airline reservations until you have received written confirmation of your registration from the Trust.

Reservations: A deposit of $2,500 per person for the main tour and $1,000 per person for the extension is required at time of registration. Reservations and deposits are taken on an as-received basis. You will receive written confirmation from the Decorative Arts Trust when we receive your registration.

Single Supplement: The single supplement is $975 for the main tour and $350 for the Optional Extension, to be paid with the final balance.

Final Payment: Will be due by November 30, 2023. 

Membership: Membership at the Sponsor level is required for participation in Study Trips Abroad. Your membership contribution is tax-deductible. If an increase in your membership level is necessary, the Trust will invoice you for the appropriate level upgrade with your final payment.

Contribution: A donation to the Decorative Arts Trust of $500 per person is required for Study Trips Abroad. This gift is fully tax deductible and helps support the Trust’s mission and programs.

Itinerary: The schedule outlined in this itinerary is contracted at this time but subject to change as necessary. The itinerary is strenuous and requires a significant amount of standing and walking.

Participation: The trip is limited to a maximum of 25 members and requires a minimum of 15. The trip will be canceled if under-subscribed, and deposits will be refunded. While proof of COVID-19 vaccination is not required, participants should be prepared to test and wear masks when requested.

Cancellation and Refunds: If you must cancel your reservation, you are urged to do so as soon as possible in writing to the Decorative Arts Trust. All cancellations are subject to a $500 administrative fee per person. Deposits are non-refundable after September 30, 2023. Cancellations arriving by December 18, 2023, will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations arriving by January 31, 2024, will receive a 25% refund. There will be no refunds for cancellations received after January 31, 2024. THE TRUST STRONGLY ENCOURAGES ALL PARTICIPANTS TO PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE TO PROTECT AGAINST CANCELLATIONS DUE TO ILLNESS, INJURY, AND DISRUPTIONS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC.

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