DAY 1: Saturday 12 September, 2020
Lisbon, Portugal
Tour members will be met at Lisbon airport at 2.00pm and
transferred to our workshop hotel. The remainder of the day
is free for your own exploration of Lisbon. This evening there
will be welcome drinks, followed by an included dinner.
DAY 2: Sunday 13 September, 2020
Lisbon, Portugal
This morning we will enjoy a Lisbon city tour with a local
guide. We will visit Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest and picturesque
quarter. We will then continue along the Tagus River to
Praça do Comércio, where a sculpture of King José I on
a bronze horse stands tall. You will also see iconic Lisbon
landmarks such as Belém Tower and the Monument to the
Discoveries. This afternoon John will commence the first
painting session in Lisbon.
DAY 3: Monday 14 September, 2020
Lisbon, Portugal
John Lovett will lead the workshop group to a good painting
location in the Alfama. He will carry out a demonstration
and then help individual workshop members with their
work. There will be time for shopping and relaxation.
DAY 4: Tuesday 15 September, 2020
Lisbon, Portugal
Today we travel to the lovely town of Sintra with a local
guide, just 28km from Lisbon. Sintra houses a Royal
Palace that we will visit, used by generations of Portuguese
royalty prior to the 1910 revolution. The surrounding hills
are divided by the remains of the Moorish Castle and by
the nineteenth-century Pena Palace. We will spend the
afternoon painting in Sintra.
DAY 5: Wednesday 16 September, 2020
Lisbon, Portugal
Our last day of painting in Lisbon. John will lead the group
to a great painting location, paint a demonstration and then
help individual workshop members with their work.
Enjoy painting and sightseeing in the beautiful Portugal cities of Lisbon and Porto. The stunning capital city of Portugal is one of the most
charismatic and vibrant cities of Europe and will be a delight to paint. Porto is a historic and varied city, from the warren of narrow streets that
make up the ancient Ribeira district through to the grand plaza of the Trindade district. The region is famed for the production of Port, which is still
stored and matured in the vast cellars that stretch along the banks of the Douro River. There will be many opportunities to paint in a friendly and
encouraging atmosphere.
DAY 6: Thursday 17 September, 2020
Porto, Portugal
This morning we head north to the town of Obidos.
Surrounded by a classic crenellated wall, Óbidos’ gorgeous
historic centre is a labyrinth of cobblestoned streets and
flower-bedecked, whitewashed houses livened up with
dashes of vivid yellow and blue paint. We continue on to
Nazare, it is said that the picturesque village of Nazaré
got its name from a statue of the Virgin Mary brought to
town from Nazareth by a monk in the 4th century. Today
it is Portugal’s most famous fishing village, having always
drawn visitors to its beaches. We will then continue our
journey onto Porto. Located along the Douro river estuary
in northern Portugal, Porto was registered as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1996. Dinner is included each night
of our stay in Porto.
DAY 7: Friday 18 September, 2020
Porto, Portugal
This morning we will meet our local guide for a
sightseeing tour of Porto. We will see the remarkable
bridges over the Douro River, the Baroque Church of St
Francis and the town’s beautiful architecture with traces of
Romanesque, Neoclassical and Gothic styles. Our tour will
include a cruise down the peaceful waters of the Douro
River by boat. You will see Porto to one side and Gaia to
the other and all of Porto’s stunning bridges connecting
the two cities. You will quickly notice that no two bridges
are alike, each with their own architecture and personality,
making for stunning photo backdrops. In the afternoon
there will be a painting session.
DAY 8: Saturday 19 September, 2020
Porto, Portugal
Porto’s rich history dates back many centuries, its old
centre is a tangle of World Heritage-listed lanes tumbling
steeply down to a medieval waterfront. It’s hard not to be
wooed by Porto’s atmospheric riverside, dotted with old
port-wine boats, pinched lanes and shadowy archways.
Varied historical monuments including the cathedral with
its Romanesque choir, neoclassical Stock Exchange and
the typical Portuguese Manueline-style Church of Santa
Clara depict cultural richness. Today John will find some
great subjects for a full day painting in Porto.
DAY 9: Sunday 20 September, 2020
Porto, Portugal
John Lovett will lead the group to a good painting location.
He will paint a demonstration and then assist workshop
members with their individual work.
DAY 10: Monday 21 September, 2020
Porto, Portugal
This morning we will enjoy a demonstration and a painting
session with John Lovett in Porto. In the afternoon we will
take a tour of one of the Port cellars in Porto and taste
their ports. These cellars have been responsible for the
production and export of the fortified wine. ‘Port Wine’, a gift
to the world is named after the city of Porto.
DAY 11: Tuesday 22 September, 2020
Porto, Portugal
After breakfast the group will travel by private coach to
the attractive port town of Viana Do Castelo for a day of
painting in the centre of its historic old town. The town’s
focal point is Praca de Republica with its delicate fountain
and elegant buildings. You may like to catch the funicular
railway to the top of Santa Luzia Hill for a grand view across
the Rio Lima River.
DAY 12: Wednesday 23 September, 2020
Porto, Portugal
This morning will be our final painting session in Porto.
In the afternoon, there will be a final critique session with
farewell drinks followed by an included farewell dinner
where you will be able to reminisce about all the highlights
of the tour.
DAY 13: Thursday 24 September, 2020
Departure
This morning we will be transferred to Porto airport for our
flights home departing after 12.00pm.