Itinerary: Alcobaça | Cós | Coimbra | Penacova | São Pedro do Sul | Arouca | Tarouca | Salzedas

A journey of cultural immersion into the legacy and mysticism of the Cistercian Order, the most influential throughout the Middle Ages in Europe. This order owes its considerable development to Bernard of Clairvaux, a man of exceptional charisma who, although not the founder of the order, remains its spiritual mentor. It can be said that he was, in his time, the great precursor of Europe, founding more than 70 monasteries. In 1151, two years before his death, there were more than 500 Abbeys in Europe. Discover the rich and valuable heritage left by the Cistercian order in Portugal. We will show you the technical, artistic, and architectural legacy of the Cistercians. The paths of Cister will lead you to the Monasteries and Convents of: Alcobaça, Cós, Lorvão, Celas, São Cristóvão, Arouca, Salzedas, and São João de Tarouca. We will show you a different, richer Portugal, highlighting the World Heritage sites and the historical, symbolic, and architectural richness of our monuments.

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PROGRAM

Day 1: Alcobaça | Cós

The Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça became, since its foundation in 1153, the mother house of the Order in Portugal. A major work of early national Gothic architecture, it preserves from that period the church building, with three naves, ambulatory and radiating chapels, the dormitory, the refectory and the cloister of King Dinis. Classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1989, the imposing monastery is one of the most impressive and beautiful examples of Cistercian architecture in all of Europe.

Today we visit another beautiful example of Cistercian architecture: the Monastery of Cós. This monastery was founded in the 13th century during the abbey of Friar Fernando, who sponsored the construction of what would become one of the most important female monasteries of the Cistercian Order.

Day 2: Coimbra | Penacova

Celas Monastery, a Cistercian example founded in the 13th century. The Celas Monastery was for women and belonged to the Cistercian Order . It was founded around 1221 by the Blessed Infanta D. Sancha , daughter of D. Sancho I , on a property called Vimaranes (Guimarães), near Coimbra.

Lorvão Monastery in Penacova: Dating back to the 9th century, its foundation was only given to Cistercian nuns during the reign of King Sancho I. The church, with its single nave, dome over the transept, and large lower choir where a magnificent Baroque choir stall is located, was completely modernized in the 18th century.

Within the cloister, with its delightful classical design, are thirteen Renaissance chapels, richly decorated and carved from the soft limestone of the region.

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Day 3: São Pedro do Sul | Arouca

Monastery of São Cristóvão: Founded in the 12th century by Cistercian monks, its building stands amidst a dense forest of chestnut, oak, laurel and hazel trees, next to the river.

Monastery of Santa Maria de Arouca: Benedictine until the 12th century, it later housed the Cistercian order until the late 19th century. The current building, the result of several interventions, dates from the 17th and 18th centuries and boasts beautiful spaces such as the Cloister, the Choir Stalls, and the Kitchen. It also houses one of the richest museums of Sacred Art in the Iberian Peninsula.

Day 5: Salzedas | Tarouca

Santa Maria de Salzedas: Founded in the 12th century, the Salzedas Monastery presents rare vestiges of the original building. The complex that has survived to this day is the result of extensive construction campaigns in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, when the two remaining cloisters were built, the interior of the church was remodeled, and the facade was completely rebuilt.

São João de Tarouca: It was the first Cistercian monastery in Portugal, dating back to 1144. The church, with three naves, a prominent transept, and a deep chancel completely remodeled in the 17th century, features a barrel vault resting on robust granite pillars.

The church's collection includes the 14th-century tomb of D. Afonso Sanches, bastard son of D. Dinis, panels by Gaspar Vaz, and a gilded woodcarving choir stall from the 18th century.

Day 6: Lamego | Douro | Places of origin

Price: 1545 euros - per person in a double room | 1745 - in a single room.

This trip will only take place with a minimum of 20 registered participants.

For your information, please consult the Booking Conditions .

Note: For private groups of other sizes, please request a quote from our agency.

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Includes:

Tour bus trip;

A tour guide will accompany you throughout the entire tour.

Technical guides during local visits;

All meals mentioned (9 meals in total)

5 nights accommodation in 3* and 4* hotels with breakfast.

Liability and personal accident insurance.

Not included in the price:

Personal expenses.

Everything that is not mentioned in the program.

BOOKING PROCEDURE

PRE-BOOKING: Pre-booking is done by filling out the pre-booking form for the respective trip. After completing the form, a 50% deposit of the trip cost must be paid within 10 business days for the booking to be considered effective. If we fail to contact you and pay the deposit, we will consider the pre-booking void. The remaining 50% must be paid up to 15 days before the departure date.

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PAYMENT

After completing the form, make the deposit payment (50% of the total trip cost) within 10 days via bank transfer to the following IBAN: PT50.0036.0077.99100090123.08

PROOF

After making the bank transfer, please send an email to ca.culturalia@gmail.com with the following information: - Proof of Payment (you can send a screenshot if you make the transfer via ATM, or you can request a notification if you make the transfer via online banking to this email address) - Trip details and dates - Name of each participant

Note: If we do not receive proof of payment of the deposit within 10 days of completing the form, your pre-booking will be cancelled.

CONFIRMATION

We will send you a confirmation email after receiving your proof of payment.