Contemporary Art & Architecture in Portugal

Overnight flight from the U.S. to Porto.

Arrive this morning. Transfer to the hotel and remainder of the day to rest. Afternoon orientation tour of the city by coach. See the highlights of both old and new Porto. Visit the Palacio da Bolsa and Sao Francisco Church. See works by Architect Alvaro Siza, Vieira’s swimming pools, and Boa Nova Tea Hose. Welcome dinner. (3 Nights)

Depart for the nearby town of Braga. Visit the beautiful Baroque staircase of the Bom Jesus, Portugal’s most famous monument. Then, visit the home, art gallery, and sculpture garden of Mario and Paola Sequiera. The stunning gallery building is by architect Carvalho Araujo. In the garden see sculptures by Richard Long, Julian Opie, and Rui Chaves. Click here to see the sculpture garden. After lunch, drive to the nearby town of Barcelos. Visit the stunning private collection of contemporary art of Filomena and Francisco Castro, installed in an 18th-century manor house and adjacent contemporary building with works by Anselm, Keiffer, Julian Opie, Richard Long, Andy Warhol, Juliao Sarmento, and Helena Almeida. Return to Porto.

Departure to see Casa de Cine, designed by Portuguese architect, Eduardo Souto de Moura. Then, enjoy a special architectural tour of the Casa de Música (Music House) by Rem Koolhas. Depart for the Serralves Foundation & Museum, with the new Foundation building designed by the great Portuguese architect, Alvaro Siza. Welcome by the head curator. Afternoon visits to the Siza Art Deco buildings. Return to the hotel. Evening drinks at the private collection of Maura Marvao followed by dinner at Cafeína Restaurant.

Visit Sandeman, one of Porto’s oldest wine lodges just across the river from Porto. Then board a private boat and sail up the Douro River admiring the view of the city and then of the vineyards. Lunch on board. Return to port, board a coach to San Bento train station for train to Lisbon. Arrive at Lisbon’s Oriente Train Station designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Enjoy an orientation drive through Lisbon on the way to the hotel. See architecture by Santiago Calatrava and Alvaro Siza-Viera. Dinner party at the studio of Joana Vasconcelos, Portugal’s best internationally-known young woman artist for dinner and dance hosted by the Portuguese Collector’s Association. (5 Nights)

Visit the Cultural Centre of Belem to see a branch of the collection of Portugal’s top contemporary art collector Jose Beard and the annual photography award: ”Best Photo.” Depart for Quinta da Bacalhoa, a property of art collector, José Berardo, one of the most beautiful Quintas in Portugal in the 16th century Renaissance style. It includes a collection of tiles and a historic garden and winery. Lunch at the Quinta. Return to Portugal. Evening cocktails at the private home of the Countess of Seisal.

Depart by coach to the romantic hill town of Sintra. Visit Sintra’s Museum of Contemporary Art that houses part of the Berardo Collection. Then, visit the Royal Palace with its important tile collection and painted ceilings. Lunch at Quinta de Sao Sebastiao, the private home of the Viscountess of Asseca. Return drive by the beautiful coast to Estoril. Visit the studio of artist Miguel Palma. Evening on own in Lisbon.

Visit the Museu d Arte Antiga. It houses the national collection of European Old Masters, an extensive decorative art collection, and the convent’s stunning Baroque Church. Welcome, orientation by the director of the museum. Then, a lectured visit of the museum’s highlights. Continue with a visit to the Monastery of Jerónimos, Lisbon’s finest example of Manueline art. Then see the Belem Tower. Lunch at the “Bica do Sapato” Lisbon’s trendiest bar and restaurant on the Tagus estuary. Afternoon visit to a branch of the private collection of Augusto Texeira and then depart for wine and refreshments at the private collection of Fernando Figueiredo Santos. Return to the hotel to freshen up. Visit the private collection of Luis August followed by dinner.

Visit the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation to visit the highlights of the collection donated to Portugal by the Armenian businessman and philanthropist. Coffee with Jorge Molder, director of the Modern Institute for Contemporary Art. Departure to visit the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (Tile Museum). Lectured visit, and lunch at the museum. Visit the studio of artist Pedro Cabrita Reis. Dinner and performance of Fado at the Clube de Fado.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S.