Portugal 2027

Scenery, Music, Food, Art, and Science

Get ready for a journey through Portugal, where Age of Discovery history, Atlantic coastlines, and vibrant local culture come together through food, art, music, and architecture. Join us on an unforgettable experience from Lisbon to the Algarve.

The adventure begins in Lisbon with a tuk tuk tour through the hilly historic Alfama District and a visit to the medieval Castelo de São Jorge for sweeping views over the city's red rooftops and the Tagus River. Students will explore the UNESCO-listed Tower of Belém and Jerónimos Monastery to learn how Portugal's seafaring past shaped global exploration. We will design our own azulejo tile in a hands-on ceramics workshop, and give back through a meaningful community volunteer activity, before catching sunset at the iconic Miradouro da Senhora do Monte one of Lisbon’s most breathtaking viewpoints.

Next, we head south to the Algarve, where a boat tour through the dramatic grottoes and sea caves of Ponta da Piedade reveals one of Portugal's most stunning coastlines. A visit to the Mercado de Escravos invites thoughtful reflection on Portugal's role in the transatlantic slave trade, followed by a hands-on science workshop and a sunset jeep safari.

The journey wraps up in the fairytale town of Sintra at the whimsical Palace of Pena before a farewell Fado dinner back in Lisbon where we listen to the authentic sound of the heart of the Portuguese people through classic guitar and soulful voices while delighting in a classic Portuguese meal.

Trip Leader: Karen Bernanke 
 
Essential Questions 
  • How does the geography of Portugal from coastal cities like Lisbon to the cliffs and beaches of Algarve influence its economy, traditions, and way of life? What difference do you notice between these spaces and what similarities?
  • What can historic neighborhoods like Alfama teach us about the preservation of culture in a modern, globalized city?
  • How does experiencing cultural traditions, such as a Fado performance, decorative tile and the other traditional arts deepen our understanding of national identity and shared history?
  • How has Portugal’s history as a crossroads of trade, religion, and diverse cultures, visible in places like Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, shaped both its national identity and its global influence and in what ways did this history foster cultural exchange while also raising questions about power and control?

Brimmer and May School

69 Middlesex Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
As an inclusive private school community, Brimmer welcomes students who will increase the diversity of our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or any other characteristic protected from discrimination under state or federal law, in the administration of our educational policies, admissions practices, financial aid decisions, and athletic and other school-administered programs.