A Private Tour of Portuguese Decorative Arts & Architecture

The ICAA is pleased to partner with Classical Excursions to present an exciting journey through Portugal, including the cities of Lisbon, Sintra, and Porto.

This tour is arranged by Classical Excursions. Please note, that you must contact Classical Excursions’ Director, Lani Summerville to formally register for this program. Upon completing a registration form, submitting a deposit to Classical Excursions, and receiving a confirmation from Classical Excursions you will be considered registered for this program. The $600 donation to the ICAA should be made only after your registration has been confirmed. Please make sure you have received confirmation before making your donation. Payment of the $600 donation to the ICAA prior to registration does not guarantee placement on the trip. Again, to inquire about registration for this program, please contact Lani Summerville at [email protected] or 413-446-8728.

A fully tax-deductible donation of $600 per person is required to participate in this travel program. This donation should be made only after your registration has been confirmed. Please note that this donation is non-refundable except in the case that this travel program is cancelled by the organization. All travel program participants have the opportunity to receive a complimentary Individual level membership for one year to the ICAA.

Quinta da Regaleira

Tour of Quinta da Regaleira, a captivating early 20th-century estate in Sintra known for its neo-Manueline palace, mystical gardens, and the remarkable Initiation Well, said to reference Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Palacio de Monserrate

Visit to Palacio de Monserrate, a palatial villa located near Sintra, the traditional summer resort of the Portuguese court.

Pena Palace

After-hours tour of Pena Palace, a 19th-century Romantic summer residence transformed by King Ferdinand II from the ruins of a monastery atop a hill in the Sintra Mountains, now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mafra National Palace

Visit to the Mafra National Palace, a monumental Baroque and Neoclassical complex built between 1717 and 1755 under King John V, comprising a basilica, convent, and one of the most significant 18th-century libraries.

Fronteira Palace

Tour of the Fronteira Palace, a 17th-century residence built by Dom João de Mascarenhas as a hunting lodge and summer retreat, later becoming the family’s primary home, renowned for its exquisite azulejo decorations and Baroque gardens.

Palace of Queluz

Tour of the Palace of Queluz, originally a summer retreat for Dom Pedro of Braganza (later King Pedro III), Rococo in style and often called the "Portuguese Versailles."

National Azulejo Museum

Visit to the National Azulejo Museum, housed in the former Convent of Madre de Deus founded in 1509, showcasing the evolution of Portuguese ceramic tiles from the 15th century to today, including the notable panoramic composition "Great View of Lisbon."

Palacio Nacional da Ajuda

Visit to the Palacio Nacional da Ajuda, a neoclassical palace begun in 1795 to replace the royal residence lost in the 1755 earthquake, which served as the Portuguese royal family’s home from 1861 to 1910.

The Decorative Arts Museum / Fundação Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva (FRESS)

Visit to the Decorative Arts Museum / Fundação Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva (FRESS), a museum founded by banker Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva to preserve and promote Portuguese decorative arts.

Palacio do Marques de Pombal

Visit to the Palacio do Marques de Pombal, an 18th-century Baroque and Rococo palace designed by Carlos Mardel and home to statesman Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, the 1st Marquis of Pombal.

Casa-Museu Medeiros e Almeida

Tour of the Casa-Museu Medeiros e Almeida, the former home of entrepreneur António de Medeiros e Almeida, now showcasing his collection of decorative arts.

Quinta dos Azulejos

Visit to the Quinta dos Azulejos, a historic estate renowned for its interiors and gardens adorned with intricate tile murals.

Batalha Monastery

Stop at the Batalha Monastery, a 14th–15th-century Dominican monastery celebrated for its Gothic and Manueline architecture.

Porto Cathedral

Tour of the Porto Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest monuments, featuring Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture.

Episcopal Palace

Stop at the Episcopal Palace, the historic residence of Porto’s bishops.

Church of Sao Francisco

Stop at the Church of Sao Francisco, renowned for its Gothic architecture and opulent Baroque interior.

Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro

Exploration of the Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro, an 18th-century Baroque mansion once home to the poet Abílio Manuel Guerra Junqueiro.

Capela das Almas

Visit to the Capela das Almas, renowned for its exterior covered in blue and white azulejo tiles.

What’s included

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  • Two-night stay at the Estoril Vintage Hotel, located in a beautifully restored century-old mansion.
  • Four-night stay at the Palacio Ludovice, former private residence of João Federico Ludovice, architect to King João V in the 18th century.
  • Three-night stay at the Torel Palace, housed in an 19th-century mansion in the heart of Porto.
  • Tour of Quinta da Regaleira, a captivating early 20th-century estate in Sintra known for its neo-Manueline palace, mystical gardens, and the remarkable Initiation Well, said to reference Dante’s Divine Comedy.
  • Visit to the Seteais Palace, followed by lunch at Seteais.
  • Visit to Palácio de Monserrate, a palatial villa located near Sintra, the traditional summer resort of the Portuguese court.
  • After-hours tour of Pena Palace, a 19th-century Romantic summer residence transformed by King Ferdinand II from the ruins of a monastery atop a hill in the Sintra Mountains, now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Visit to the Mafra National Palace, a monumental Baroque and Neoclassical complex built between 1717 and 1755 under King John V, comprising a basilica, convent, and one of the most significant 18th-century libraries.
  • Tour of the Fronteira Palace, a 17th-century residence built by Dom João de Mascarenhas as a hunting lodge and summer retreat, later becoming the family’s primary home, renowned for its exquisite azulejo decorations and Baroque gardens.
  • Tour of the Palace of Queluz, originally a summer retreat for Dom Pedro of Braganza (later King Pedro III), Rococo in style and often called the "Portuguese Versailles."
  • Visit to the National Azulejo Museum, housed in the former Convent of Madre de Deus founded in 1509, showcasing the evolution of Portuguese ceramic tiles from the 15th century to today, including the notable panoramic composition "Great View of Lisbon."
  • Visit to the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, a neoclassical palace begun in 1795 to replace the royal residence lost in the 1755 earthquake, which served as the Portuguese royal family’s home from 1861 to 1910.
  • Visit to The Decorative Arts Museum / Fundação Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva (FRESS), a museum founded by banker Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva to preserve and promote Portuguese decorative arts.
  • Visit to the Palácio do Marquês de Pombal, an 18th-century Baroque and Rococo palace designed by Carlos Mardel and home to statesman Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, the 1st Marquis of Pombal.
  • Tour of the Casa-Museu Medeiros e Almeida, the former home of entrepreneur António de Medeiros e Almeida, now showcasing his collection of decorative arts.
  • Visit to the Quinta dos Azulejos, a historic estate renowned for its interiors and gardens adorned with intricate tile murals.
  • Stop at the Batalha Monastery, a 14th–15th-century Dominican monastery celebrated for its Gothic and Manueline architecture.
  • Tour of the Porto Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest monuments, featuring Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture.
  • Stop at the Episcopal Palace, the historic residence of Porto’s bishops.
  • Stop at the Church of São Francisco, renowned for its Gothic architecture and opulent Baroque interior.
  • Exploration of the Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro, an 18th-century Baroque mansion once home to the poet Abílio Manuel Guerra Junqueiro.
  • Visit to the Capela das Almas, renowned for its exterior covered in blue and white azulejo tiles.

Pena Palace (image: wikimedia / Diego Delso)



Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra



Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra



Palácio de Monserrate, Sintra



Palácio de Monserrate, Sintra



Mafra National Palace



Palacio Fronteira (Fronteira Palace), Lisbon (image: wikimedia / kkmarais)



Palacio Fronteira (Fronteira Palace), Lisbon (image: wikimedia / GualdimG)



Palácio de Queluz (Palace of Queluz) (image: wikimedia / Holger Uwe Schmitt)



Batalha Monastery (image: wikimedia / Alvesgaspar)



Porto Cathedral (image: wikimedia / Matt Kieffer)



Porto Cathedral (image: wikimedia / Peter K Burian)



Capela das Almas, Porto (image: wikimedia / Petr Adam Dohnalek)



FAQ

How do I register for an ICAA travel program?

If you would like to register, you may contact the travel operator organizing the program. Please note that a $600 donation per person to the ICAA is required in order to participate in each travel program.

What does the required $600 donation fund?

Your $600 donation helps to further the ICAA’s goal of advancing the practice and appreciation of the classical tradition in architecture and the allied arts by supporting its varied educational programs, including continuing education courses, college workshops, the Summer Studio in Classical Architecture, New Heights, and many more.

Am I required to pay a $600 donation for each travel program I register for?

Yes, a donation of $600 to the ICAA is required for each travel program you register for. The donation is required for each person attending a tour.

How do I make my $600 donation to the ICAA?

You can make your $600 donation to the ICAA online, or you can download, complete, and mail this form to the ICAA. You can alternatively fax a copy to 212-730-9649. You may also call 212-730-9646 x102 or email [email protected] to make a donation. Donations must be made separately from the registration fee.

When should I make my $600 donation to the ICAA?

The $600 donation should be made only after your registration has been confirmed by Classical Excursions. Please contact Classical Excursions first to complete your registration, and once they confirm your place on the trip, you may then submit the required $600 donation.

Do I have to be a member of the ICAA to participate in an ICAA travel program?

No, membership is not required to attend an ICAA travel program. However, complimentary Individual membership to the ICAA is included with your $600 required donation.

I don’t see the full itinerary for the tour I am interested in. When will it be released?

For full itinerary and more information, contact [email protected], 860-926-4895. Due to the exclusive nature of our tours, some private locations or visits may be omitted from the ICAA's website.

What kinds of trips does the ICAA offer?

Over the past several years, the ICAA has travelled to destinations including Paris; Andalusia; Atlanta; Barbados; South Africa; Chicago; the Netherlands and Belgium; Scotland; the French Riviera; Morocco; the Italian Lake Region; Charlottesville; Naples; and New Delhi, among many other locations. The ICAA is always looking to diversify its travel offerings. If you have a suggestion or location you would like to see added, please email [email protected].