Educational/Service/Cultural

Lisbon, Alcobaca, Coimbra, Porto, Estoril, Cascais, Sintra Begin your journey in Portugal's capital, Lisbon. The city is known as the Queen of the Seas, due to its location perched on the mouth of the Tagus River and its importance to maritime history. From here Vasco de Gama set up the spice route with India in the 15th century and Brazilian gold arrived through this port in the late 17th century. Visit the Castelo Sao Jorge and its lovely gardens. Leave Lisbon for Alcobaca where we visit the UNESCO designated world heritage site, the Monastery of Santa Maria of D'Alcobaca, founded in the 12th century by King Alfonso – a masterpiece of Cistercian Gothic art. Tour this incredibly picturesque city with its lovely university buildings, one of the first in the world founded in 1290. We visit the Santa Cruz Monastery, the Church of the Sao Tiago, and the exquisite Botanical gardens and much more. Next it's on to Porto, Portugal's second city. The historic center has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site due it's amazing urban landscape and 2000 year history. Famously set over the River Douro, it is rich in charm and style. See the 12th century Se Cathedral, the 'Palacio da Bolsa', the exquisite 14th century Igreja da Santa Clara and much more. Explore the delightful coastal region just outside Lisbon – exquisite beaches, small villages abound. We will visit the old fishing village of Cascais and see the Estoril coast. Sintra is home to the beautiful Parque Natural Serra da Sintra and the palace. This region has also been designated by UNESCO as a world cultural site. When we return to Lisbon we will work with the ProAtlantico Portugal organization working with youth and disabled youth in a variety of service projects for four days. We also will be meeting local youths to have conversations and social activities to learn about their culture and so that they can learn about ours.

Contact Dean Lynn Rasch at 574-842-8146 for more information.