4-Day Medieval Symbolism Tour in Portugal with Tomar and Guimarães
About This Tour
Sign up for this tour to Portugal and witness incomparable monuments of Medieval art as you explore temples, castles, and historic cities shaped by layers of sy...
Duration: 4 Days · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Moderate · Accommodation: Not included · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: Not applicable · Cities: Coimbra, Lisbon, Porto, Tomar, Guimarães, Alcobaça · Languages: English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Know before you go: On this tour, you will get answers to many questions. Why were the symbols of the Evangelists depicted in a specific sequence? Could the Virgin Mary be portrayed as barefoot? What did the colors mean, and how did the people of the Middle Ages see them? What does the science of "Sigils" study, and is it possible to comprehend the meaning of the mysterious signs on the monumental buildings of the Middle Ages? What was the significance of heraldry, and what codes were included in the heraldic images? After all, what was the world of the Middle Ages like, and is it possible for us, people of the 21st century, to see the world the same way our predecessors saw it?
About Coimbra
Coimbra
Get a local guide to help you unravel the history and culture of Coimbra; a town of museums and exquisite 18th century architecture, Portugal’s most famous university and the winding Mondego River.
What's Included
- PhD historian guide
- Transfer throughout the journey
Not Included
- Museum tickets
- Accommodation
Itinerary
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1Day 01
Lisbon, Alcobaça, and Tomar
Meet your tour guide and prepare to dive into the world of Medieval symbolism. The journey begins in Lisbon with a visit to the mighty Jerónimos Monastery. From there, continue to Alcobaça to see with your own eyes the beautiful monastery of the 'White Brothers', the first Gothic building in the Iberian Peninsula. For more than a year, our team worked on this site to study the secret language of symbols depicted on the walls of this beautiful monastery. After lunch in Alcobaça, travel to Tomar, a city that hosted the Grand Seat of the Order of Christ for centuries. On this day, you will have dinner in a real Medieval tavern and explore the city.
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2Day 02
Tomar and Coimbra Discoveries
Visit all the most important places of Tomar on the second day, including sites that are not necessarily touristic. Investigate the Brothers' Secret Garden of 7 Hills, see the Church of St. John the Baptist, and discover the secrets of St. Maria dos Olivais Church, the biggest pantheon of the Grand Masters of the Order of Christ. Of course, you will also search for secret symbols in the Convento de Cristo. From Tomar, travel to Coimbra to visit Sé Cathedral and the Machado de Castro Museum, gaining a deeper understanding of what the symbols are trying to tell us. From Coimbra, there is a direct transfer to Porto.
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3Day 03
Porto and Guimarães Symbolism Trail
Search for signs and symbols in the north of Portugal on the penultimate day of the tour. Visit St. Francis Church and its catacombs, roam the little streets of Porto's Jewish neighbourhoods, and dive into the secrets of Ribeira. Then travel to Guimarães to see the most beautifully preserved Medieval city in Portugal, full of symbols and signs on the walls. After discovering Guimarães, return to Porto for an evening walking tour around the city.
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4Day 04
Transfer to Lisbon or Your Preferred City
On this day, you will have a direct transfer to Lisbon or to your preferred city of stay.
Meeting Point
Meeting point: Lisbon, Portugal · Tour start: Lisbon, Portugal — Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
