Visit an area of countryside and Atlantic coast that includes 3 different municipalities west of Lisbon: Sintra (7 UNESCO monuments and parks), Mafra (1 UNESCO monument and hunting grounds) and Cascais and Estoril (the Portuguese Riviera);
Acknowledge the UNESCO Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a surface of 8 by 4 kms long, where amidst a boulder mountain near the Atlantic, human built patrimony moulded a unique site with a Castle, Palaces, Chalets, Estates, Villas, Monasteries, Fountains, Gardens, Dams, Streams, Waterfalls, Chapels, Ruins.
Realise the characteristics and mystifications attached to this particular land, its chronologically different inhabitants and investments, understanding when, who and why, participated in crafting this unique World Heritage site;
Provided visual support of mainly postcards and maps, at crucial photo stops along the landmarks, will give visitors a holistic experience to frame the full picture of place, something that the individual paid visit of one or two sites would not facilitate;
A knowledgeable, experienced and passionate local guide, will suggest free visitation sites to accommodate the will of visitors, and this landscape is rich enough to give options of picturesque house museums of late local artists (like a former novelist, sculpture artist or cartoonist/illustrator), a XVII century estate property with a beautiful garden with sequoias on a river bank, or even a miniature town depicting life and livelihood in the mid past century;
Lunch will have the option of a self made barbecue of meat and/or fish in one of the reserved public areas around for that use (after a group visit to the supermarket), or the obvious option/suggestion of some of the best typical Portuguese food restaurants around;
On the afternoon, starting North to South one can venture through the municipalities of Mafra, and wander through picturesque towns, countryside or coastal, like Ericeira, Mata Pequena, Azenhas do Mar, Penedo and Almoçageme;
A stop at a beach for a drink or a swim will be an option, or a mountain bike or walking trail to do among the nature cliffs of the Atlantic, as well as the various 4x4 trails that present a navigational way to discover more on the way to the westernmost point of Europe, “Cabo da Roca”;
After the iconic lighthouse and its surroundings, will be following south to the “sun coast” of Cascais, to appreciate the old citadel, the boat bay, the beach of Tamariz, Casino Estoril, or the luxurious Hotel Palácio, while passing through landmarks like the sporty and windy Guincho Beach, the calmness of the Cresmina Dune or the infamous Boca do Inferno natural cave.
The guide will adapt the tour to the will of guests. Meaning that prior to the arranged day, one shall discuss the focal points of interest: palaces and their richness, nature and its wild factor, humble inhabitants and their livelihood, shopping or leisure as a preference for using the tour time as these are solely some examples
