
10/07/2025
Postcards from Portugal – Day 4
Bom dia from Portugal✨
Day 4 was all about immersing ourselves in Portugal’s rich culture, history, and equestrian heritage.
We started early, catching the train into Lisbon for a day of exploration. But first – as every good day in Portugal begins – there was a pastel de nata (Portuguese tart) and a quick espresso to fuel the adventure ahead. There’s nothing quite like the creamy sweetness of a pastel de nata paired with strong Portuguese coffee to start your morning right.
At the station, we were met by our private tour guide, Anya. It was such a treat to have a professional guide dedicated just to our group rather than joining a large public tour. Anya shared her deep knowledge and local insights, making the history come alive at every step. She is also a good friend of Nicole Giger, who helped organise this wonderful part of our trip – it’s always special when you get to travel with connections like that, adding a personal touch to the day.
✨ We set off on a four-hour walking tour, nice and early before the sun grew too hot. Anya led us through the winding streets of Lisbon, sharing stories that painted vivid pictures of the city’s past.
We learnt about Lisbon’s devastating earthquake in 1755 and how the city was completely rebuilt under the direction of the visionary Marquês de Pombal, who redesigned it with wide streets and earthquake-resistant structures. It was fascinating to hear how the King of Portugal at the time was too scared to return to Lisbon after the disaster and chose to live outside the city.
We discovered where to go in Lisbon to party, and where to find quiet corners for contemplation, giving us an insider’s map to the city’s moods and rhythms. We enjoyed incredible views across the rooftops, learning how Lisbon is built on seven hills, each with its own castle, churches, and stories reaching back centuries. We even visited the world’s oldest bookstore, a hidden gem tucked among the cobbled streets.
✨ But our day wasn’t done yet.
By 1 o’clock, it was time for the second half of our adventure – a visit to Villa Oeiras, nestled in the charming town of Oeiras just outside Lisbon. Here, our day transformed from cultural discovery to equestrian and enological delight.
We toured a family-run Lusitano stud farm Coudelaria De Oeiras JD, having a home made lunch complete with quiche and cake abd award winning cheese, and a guided tour with Carolina Puga Ratola , meeting their beautifully bred horses raised amid rolling vineyards. The backdrop? Rows of Carcavelos vines, planted over just 20 hectares, making it Portugal’s smallest DOC wine region. Production here is tiny, but the flavour is mighty – Carcavelos is a fortified wine, rich and golden with notes of caramel, dried fruits, and a hint of sea breeze – a style almost lost to urban sprawl but now preserved and celebrated once more. We enjoyed a tour of the wone making facilities and of course the wine tasting was compulsory!
✨ Then came something truly special.
Not only did we learn about the horses they breed here, but we also explored fascinating parts of the farm, including the ancient 17th-century ‘fishing pond’, built for none other than the Marquês de Pombal himself – the same visionary we learnt about that morning who rebuilt Lisbon after the earthquake. This wasn’t just a pond with a statue; it was a magnificent water feature and fountain complex, a hidden architectural treasure tucked away in the middle of the estate.
✨ And on a special note for me personally – I got to see a daughter of Ali Baba and her grandchildren, the great-grandchildren of Ali Baba.
For those who know Lusitano breeding, Ali Baba is a truly classy stallion, and seeing his lineage thriving here was deeply meaningful and emotional.
✨ It felt like a perfect full-circle moment.
Having learnt about the Marquês de Pombal’s impact on Lisbon earlier that day, to then stand on his land, beside this historic pond, surrounded by Lusitano horses – including descendants of Ali Baba – and ancient Carcavelos vines, tied together Portugal’s history, equestrian heritage, and cultural richness in a way words can barely describe.
Stay tuned for Day 5, as we continue our journey deeper into Portugal’s equine heartlands.