PORTUGAL AND SPAIN ITS AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK (12 days/11 nights)

Day 1 – ARRIVAL AT LISBON AIRPORT

Upon arrival at the airport met and greet by our escort and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation and time to refresh up and relax.

In the afternoon sightseeing tour of the city visiting the places and monuments more relevant of Lisbon such as the Alfama and Belem quarters. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 – LISBON AND SURROUNDINGS

Depart to Santarem to visit the most important Agriculture Portuguese School where the future agricultural engineers are learning and specialising in different agricultural and farming fields.

From there you head to Alcobaça where you visit an experimental farm founded more than 20 years ago. They offer a variety of apples and pears of the highest quality, produced within the fine techniques and kept in the best conditions by means of advanced technology equipment.

Return to Lisbon.

In the evening the group will have an economist lecture about economy and financing system of the agriculture in Portugal. Overnight.

Day 3 – LISBON AND SURROUNDINGS

Departure to visit a farm, family – oriented, with experience of over 30 years, they begun in milk production in the mid-70s with a small number of animals. Going through various branches of livestock, the choice was to turn to the milk of cows, starting by importing animals of Dutch, German and French origin, as well as the massive use of artificial insemination, with Holstein bulls, tested countries that are the world leaders in animal genetics as Canada and the United States.

Then departure towards the northeast of Lisbon to visit a farm, which probably is the largest in Portugal with 20.000 hectares; part of them are dedicated to arable land and the remaining are pastures for the bovine and ovine herds and forest; it also has a rice plantation on 600 hectares, 150 purebred Lusitano horses and a winery. The visit will be focused according the interest of the group.

Return to Lisbon. Overnight.

Day 4 – LISBON – BEJA

Early morning departure to Coruche to visit one of the cork factories that belongs to largest cork manufacturer in the world. During the visit, you receive full explanations about the process of cork.

From there you drive south till a town near Beja where you have a meeting with a forestry engineer and perhaps you have the chance to see how a sawmill is working. Overnight.

Day 5 – BEJA – SEVILLE

Departure to Spain crossing the Guadiana River that makes the natural border among these two countries. Whether you come in winter or spring time you visit a strawberry plantation that export a high percentage of its production to EU countries; during the visit, you receive full explanations

From there you head to a town located on the north of Seville where you visit a coop that produces several kinds of crops such as cereals, fruits and so on.

Continue to Seville. Overnight.

Day 6 – SEVILLE City Tour

Morning Seville’s city tour seeing the highlights of this city which is the political and administrative capital of Andalusia; some of its monuments such as the Cathedral and the Alcazar or Fortress were designated World Heritage Sites; strolling through the Santa Cruz Quarter you feel to dating back to the medieval times. Afternoon at leisure to discover on your own hidden places of the city, to shopping down or to take a boat trip on the Guadalquivir River. Overnight.

Day 7 – SEVILLE – LA RAMBLA – ANTEQUERA

From the capital of Andalusia, you head to the province of Córdoba where in a small town you visit a couple of potteries and ceramist producers seeing how they work in an artisan way. It is a very educational experience.

Then you continue to Antequera, which is an interesting town founded 2,500 year B.C. although its splendour period was during the Moorish occupation.

Overnight.

Day 8 – ANTEQUERA – MOTRIL

Departure from the hotel and in the same town we show you a coop, which is the biggest in the world, that represents the 3 per cent of the world olive oil production, selling about 50.000 tons of olive oil that they produce in 90.000 hectares with 12 million of olive trees.

If you come in during the harvest period (November till February) and according of the schedule of the day you will visit a coop seeing how an olive oil mill is working; an expertise will give you explanations about the process and the different kind of olive oil

Then, departure towards the Mediterranean Sea till arriving the town of Motril visiting a horticulture producer where you see the whole process of preparation, selection and packing of vegetables ready to be sold at the domestic market or exported to several European countries. Overnight.

Day 9 – MOTRIL – GRANADA

Departure towards Granada; on the way, you will visit a winery at the Lecrín Valley; it’s a small one although produce wine of good quality. You walk between the vines and at the wine cellar you receive explanations of the elaboration process, ending the visit with a tasting.

Then you will continue to Granada.

Accompanied by the official local guide you visit the highlight of the city, which is the Palace of the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens; this fortress was designated a World Heritage Site.

Your free time and at your own, can be devoted to visit the Old City Centre where are located several relevant monuments such as the Cathedral, the Royal Chapel and some others.

In the evening at the quarter of Sacromonte we suggest, if you wish, to attend to a Flamenco show in one of the old gipsy caves. Overnight.

Day 10 – GRANADA – CORDOBA

Depart to north west to visit a dairy farm. This farm activity began in the years 1970-1971, currently has an own livestock, with 660 heads approx. of dairy cows with an average production of 32/33 litters per day, with a percentage of 3.8 fat and 3.2 protein. The farm is located about 5 km of the installations of the co-operative and the milk processing plant.

This production is pasteurised, homogenised and packaged by the coop itself and marketed and distributed daily.

Continue to visit a machinery factory for the agriculture. You walk around the factory where its different departments will be shown, receiving you full explanations by a technician.

Then you continue to Cordoba. Brief walking tour to admire the Mosque, designated a World Heritage Site (subjected to the timetable of this monument) and the Jewish quarter. Accommodation at the hotel and overnight.

Day 11 – CORDOBA – VALLE DE LOS PEDROCHES – MADRID

Departure towards north to visit one of the most important cooperatives in Spain. It has about 9.000 members that produce quite everything. This coop has different units in several towns although you visit the headquarters. Generally, the visit starts at the typification centres of lambs and calves, afterwards you see where the Iberian pork products are cured and dried, finalising at the milk processing plant. The visits to the different units may vary.

Return to Cordoba. Transfer to the rail station to board the high-speed train to Madrid, upon arrival to the capital of Spain transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 12 – MADRID DEPARTURE

Time at leisure and transfer to the airport at appropriate time; check-in at the counter of your air carrier and then go through the passport and security control going then to the gate for boarding the flight to your next destination.