17 U S A ( To l l - f r e e ) 1-877-381-2914 E m a i l info@theculturalexperience.com Early Periods Amiens Cathedral The Battle of Crécy the River Tagus at Alcantara, so well-built, that until only recently articulated wagons were crossing over it. Today access is limited to lighter traffic and so we can safely walk its length and see the aedicule dedicated to Trajan. Thence to Caceres where we find an excellent example of a Roman camp dating to the 2nd century BC. Check-in for the night at the Renaissance Palace parador located in the heart of Caceres. Day 3 – Emerita Augusta. The capital of Lusitania founded in the 1st century BC, Emerita Augusta (Merida) boasts one of the finest collections of extant Roman architecture in the Iberian Peninsula. We will explore its theatre, amphitheatre, circus, bridges and water management systems, temple, many residential buildings and the superb Museum of Roman Art. Check-in to Merida parador, a former 18th century convent, for one night. Day 4 – Proserpina Dam and Badajoz. Built to ensure a bountiful water supply to Emerita Augusta, we walk over this earth dam with its retaining wall which still serves the purpose it was designed for 2000 years ago. Thence to the Roman villa at Torre Aguila with its Octagonal and Summer rooms with their hypocaust, thermal baths, mill and press. We continue to Badajoz to visit its wonderful archaeological museum. We spend the night in the delightful fortified city of Elvas just inside the Portuguese border, our hotel built in to the actual walls. Day 5 – Evora and Alcacer. We spend the morning in Evora where there is the opportunity to explore this UNESCO listed town, including the wonderful Roman Temple surrounded by a host of equally magnificent medieval religious buildings. We continue to Alcacer do Sal where we find the remains of a Roman cult site and a small museum. Check-in to our pousada hotel, at once both a former convent and a castle, for one night. Day 6 – Mirobriga and Troia. We drive to Santiago do Cacem with its lovely castle and the important Roman archaeological site of Mirobriga with its baths, forum and hippodrome. Thence to the Roman remains on the Troia Peninsula which include an extant garum factory. We spend our last two nights at the lovely castle parador at Palmela with magnificent views over Setubal and the Atlantic Ocean. Day 7 – Lisbon. We spend a full day in Lisbon where we explore the cathedral with its interesting Roman artefacts and theatre and the impressive archaeological museum. Day 8 – Ordrinhas and Home. We travel out to the Roman museum at Odrinhas and then on to Lisbon airport for our return flights.