About Dreams in Europe by About Dreams

About Dreams

is a travel agency focusing on the creation of routes based on quality and originality, ensuring unique experiences and moments. We operate in the market of the world, and through a gourmet concept, to demanding customers, we believe that with us they will achieve their wishes and dreams in each travel. In the market of EUROPE, About Dreams wants to strengthen and show the value of the History, the Culture and Nature of an Old and charming Continent, revealing the best of each country, city or village. EUROPE has amazing landscapes, gorgeous places and a splendid culture, where we can breathe the past that the whole world wants to know.

Travel is only the beginning...

About Europeâ&#x20AC;Ś of travel experiences for both long and

short visits. It is the smallest of all the continents, with 27 countries located

within the European Union.

Here you can practice water

sports, play golf on the best courses in the world, contemplate nature, experience the most novel well-being treatments and, most of all, appreciate a fantastic well preserved cultural and historical heritage. Modern means of transportation will let you travel between different European

regions or countries in the shortest time possible, not only by plane but also trying European railways, a fast and ecological option when travelling between European countries.

Open borders, a unique currency, safety, small and fast distances

and an efficient and modern infrastructure makes visiting Europe a cool breeze and a pleasure.

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Europe offers a variety

Come and visit Europe with us

LISBON

About Lisbon Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and Europe's second-oldest capital (after Athens), once home to the world's greatest explorers like Vasco da Gama and Prince Henry the Navigator, becoming the first true world city, the capital of an empire spreading over all continents, from South America (Brazil) to Asia (Macao, China, Goa, India) and Africa. One of Europe's most soulful, captivating and picturesque capitals, built on a series of hills, Lisbon is the city of the oceans, the only European capital with sunsets on the sea. It's also one of the world's great historical cities, with characteristic and surprising sights, cultural treasures, typical neighborhoods and a beautiful setting that make it a paradise for walkers and photographers. A compact and intimate city, ideal for a short city break or a longer romantic stay, with a lively “café culture” and a nightlife that is one of the most vibrant in Europe, Lisbon is a friendly city with a cosmopolitan population, welcoming to all visitors and families with children, and open to minorities and alternative lifestyles. It is the only European capital located so close to sandy beaches, enabling visitors to combine culture with fun by the sea, and its surroundings offer an incredible variety of tourist attractions, from fairytale palaces in one of Europe's most romantic towns (Sintra), to world-class golf and fun in Europe's largest casino in Estoril, to surfing in Cascais or escaping to a natural park in arrábida, o dolphin-watching in Setúbal. Due to its location in the country, Lisbon also makes a perfect base to explore many of Portugal’s most outstanding towns and villages, from Évora to Óbidos. It's the closest European capital to the United States and just around a two hour flight from all the other major European cities. Lisbon is also one of the safest European capitals, and its mild climate makes it an ideal year-round destination. Even in winter, when most other European cities are freezing, in Lisbon temperatures rarely go below 10C (50F).

LISBON

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HIGHLIGHTS The resting place of explorer Vasco da Gama is a church called Jeronimos Monastery built in the 1500s as part of a magnificent monastery. Its cloisters are considered among the most beautiful in the world and has been listed as a World Heritage Site.

Travel days | 4 days Accommodation | Hotel Activities | Gastronomy, wines, history, culture, fado Reservations | Minimum 2 people

The city's icon is also a symbol of the Age of Discovery. Built in the early 1500s, the Belem Tower watchtower has been declared a World Heritage monument by UNESCO. The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum has treasures from the East and the West collected by one man is now one of the world's finest private art collections. It includes works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Monet and René Lalique. See what the gold found in colonial Brazil was able to pay for, hidden in the surprisingly rich São Roque Church, the world’s most expensive chapel. The Chapel of St. John the Baptist inside is a European masterpiece (what look like paintings are actually mosaics!) made in Rome for this Lisbon church, and to see more baroque magnificence head to Santa Catarina Church nearby. If you develop a taste for this type of golden art, don't miss the golden carriages of the Coaches Museum. The creations of top international names in fashion and design are presented in a permanent collection and in temporary exhibitions. Opened in 2009 in a former bank's headquarters, Design & Fashion Museum is one of Lisbon's most surprising spaces, recognized as one of the world's leading design and fashion museums. Admission is free. Contrasting with the city's oldest neighborhoods is Parque das Nações, the 21st-century district showcasing striking contemporary architecture with Europe's longest bridge as the backdrop. It includes a state-of-the-art aquarium, a casino, and a wonderful waterfront promenade. And in Lisbon everybody must visit a “Casa de Fado" or Fado restaurant , an essential experience. – Fado is the national song , World Heritage.There are many in the Bairro Alto district, but the most authentic are found in Alfama.

PORTO

About Porto Porto, also known as Oporto in English, is the secondlargest city in Portugal, after Lisbon, and one of the major urban areas in Southern Europe and the capital of the second major great urban area in Portugal. Located along the Douro river estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres, and registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Its settlement dates back many centuries, when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire. Its Latin name, Portus Cale , has been referred to as the origin for the name "Portugal", based on transliteration and oral evolution from Latin. In Portuguese the name of the city is spelled with a definite article as "o Porto" (English: the port). Consequently, its English name evolved from a misinterpretation of the oral pronunciation and referred to as "Oporto" in modern literature and by many speakers. One of the most internationally famous exports from Portugal, Port Wine, is on par with the historic value of the town center and the picturesque life of the Ribeira, the biggest tourist attraction of the city and the magnificent Douro region, responsible for bringing to the North of Portugal many millions of visitors each year.

PORTO

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HIGHLIGHTS Explore the riverside neighbourhood of the Ribeira Circuit and discover the Casa do Infante, the Trading Palace, or the renowned Rua Ferreira Borges and the wellpreserved Rua de Miragaia. Just a few kilometers away you’ll discover Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde, as well as Amarante, another highlight of the region, one of Portugal’s most romantic cities, with its timeless Tâmega river, known locally as the ‘eternal bride’. Join the party on the streets of Porto for its New Year’s Eve and São João festival celebrations in June. The people of northern Portugal know how to have a good time. Discover the attractions of a night out in Porto. Visit the sites that are central to the history of Porto, and discover more about this world famous wine. You can sample a few of the different types of Port Wine in a suitably refined atmosphere, while looking out to the river Douro below. On a Douro cruise you’ll see the imposing bridges that connect the past and future of the city of Porto, and also get the best views of the streets leading up from the river. T

Travel days | 4 days Accommodation | Hotel Activities | Gastronomy, wines, history, culture, landscape Reservations | Minimum 2 people

his trip along the Douro provides a great way to see the northern capital. While enjoying the relaxing cruise, you’ll also notice how the dark buildings of the city seem to be stacked on top of one another along the narrow, labyrinthine streets. Leaving from Gaia, the hour-long tour gives you the opportunity to learn a little more of the city’s history, as revealed by its characteristic bridges. You’ll see the Pênsil Bridge, inaugurated in 1843, and the Maria Pia Bridge, the first major work of Gustavo Eiffel. Next you’ll go under the grandiose Luís I Bridge, designed by Teófilo Seyrig, Eiffel’s partner, before the Arrábida Bridge with its 270-metre span, for some time a world record holder for reinforced concrete bridges.

LONDON

About London London is the capital of England, the most populous region, urban zone and metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, and its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium. Today, London is a global city, one of the world's leading financial centers, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport, all contributing to its prominence. Described as a world cultural capital, the world's most-visited city as measured by international arrivals, London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London, Kew Gardens, the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's Church, and the historic settlement of Greenwich, in which the Royal Observatory marks the Prime Meridian, 0째 longitude. Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and The Shard. London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, National Gallery and Tate Modern. London has a diverse range of peoples and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries. With all this incredible diversity and most of all, places to see and admire, it is almost impossible not to visit London, a friendly, modern and cosmopolitan city.

LONDON london | england

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HIGHLIGHTS London Eye, the National Gallery and Tower of London are London's most visited tourist attractions. Many of the attractions are free: there's no better place to soak up some culture. Whether you prefer history or modern art, you'll find it in this city. The EDF Energy London Eye is a major feature of London's skyline. It is the world's highest observation wheel, with 32 capsules, each weighing 10 tonnes, and holding up to 25 people. Climb aboard for a breathtaking experience, with unforgettable views of more than 55 of London's most famous landmarks. A vibrant tour through London at night will reveal all the splendor and brilliance of the most spectacular monuments and places of the city. It is in the sunset that the sights and streets of London will light and let you be able to live the city from a new perspective. Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, The City, London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Big Ben, West End, Soho, Thames Embankment. An opportunity to admire and walk by these places and monuments under the special light of the night , in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Your Highness, London Travel days | 4 days Accommodation | Hotel Activities | History and culture Reservations | Minimum 2 people

Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic pubs tour takes us through the city to visit delightful pubs in the center of London in unique and full of history places. You can drink a good and fresh beer in a Victorian palace, in an art nouveau house, in a place rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666, and absorb the atmosphere hearing fascinating stories. It seems an irresistible temptation. Science Museum. From the future of space travel to asking that difficult question, "Who am I?", the Science Museum makes your brain perform Olympic-standard mental gymnastics. See, touch and experience the major scientific advances of the last 300 years. Don't forget the awesome Imax cinema. At Madame Tussauds, you'll come face-to-face with some of the world's most famous faces. From Shakespeare to Lady Gaga you'll meet influential figures from showbiz, sport, politics and even Royalty. Strike a pose with Usain Bolt, kiss Brad Pitt or receive a oncein-a-lifetime audience with Her Majesty the Queen.

ROME

About Rome Located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, Rome is referred to as "The Eternal City", a notion expressed by ancient Roman poets and writers. Rome's history spans more than two and a half thousand years, since its legendary founding in 753 BC. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe. In the ancient world it was successively the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded as one of the birthplaces of western civilization. Since the 1st century AC, Rome has been considered the seat of the Papacy and in the 8th century it became the capital of the Papal States, which lasted until 1870. In 1871 Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1946 that of the Italian Republic. Rome is the only city in the world to contain in its interior a whole state, the enclave of Vatican City and for this reason it has been often defined as capital of two states. After the Middle Ages, Rome was ruled by popes such as Alexander VI and Leo X, who transformed the city into one of the major centers of the Italian Renaissance along with Florence - the current version of St Peter's Basilica was built and the Sistine Chapel was painted by Michelangelo. Famous artists and architects, such as Bramante, Bernini and Raphael resided for some time in Rome, contributing to its Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Rome has been ranked in 2010 as the 28th most important global city, and in 2007 was the 11th-most-visited city in the world, 3rd most visited in the European Union, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. The city is one of Europe's and the world's most successful city "brands", both in terms of reputation and assets. Its historic center is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Monuments and museums such as the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum are among the world's most visited tourist destinations with both locations receiving millions of tourists a year.

ROME

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HIGHLIGHTS The Colosseum in Rome is one of the world's best known sites from antiquity (for something built in 80 AD, the Colosseum is holding up very well). It was here that the Roman emperors liked to watch gladiators stage to-the-death battles as well as to hunt and kill wild animals. The popes were among the very first royalty to open their vast art collections to public viewing. Pope Julius II (1443 - 1513) began collecting sculpture during the Renaissance and, ever since, most popes have taken an active interest in art and in commissioning the best artists of their time. Today you can view the Vatican's incredible collection while touring the so-called 'Vatican Museums', a huge complex of galleries and museums showcasing painting, sculpture, frescoes, tapestries and classical antiquities including Roman, Greek and Egyptian. There are, of course, also collections of religious art, papal portraits and, less obviously, carriages and automobiles. The Pantheon in Rome is a remarkable building architecturally. Basically a cylinder with the floating dome on top of columns, it is the largest masonry vault ever built. In the center of this dome is a hole bringing in a shaft of light to show the beauty of this building and its relatively simple, open interior. Being inside the Pantheon feels very special.

Rome, La CittĂ Eterna Travel days | 4 days Accommodation | Hotel Activities | History and culture Reservations | Minimum 2 people

The Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous and most beloved sights in Rome. A huge Baroque flurry (85 by 65 feet or 25 by 20 meters) where water spills from rocks under the feet of Neptune, Triton and sea-horses into a large pool, it's always surrounded by coin-tossing tourists. Superstition has it that if you toss a coin into the fountain you will one day return to Rome. It shows how much people love this city that up to $3,500 a day is thrown in! The money is collected at night by the city and distributed to charity. The Piazza del Popolo is one of Romeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many large public squares. This piazza is in the northern part of central Rome. The architect of the present-day piazza, built in the early 19th century, removed some existing structures to alter the shape from a trapezoid to a larger circular shape. While the piazza used to be a thoroughfare for cars, it is now a pedestrian-only zone.

PARIS

About Paris Paris is situated on the River Seine, in the northern central part of France, and is the capital and most populous city of the country. It covers an area of about 87 square kilometers (34 square mi) and its metropolitan area is one of the largest population centers in Europe. An important settlement for more than two millennia and the largest city in the Western world until the turn of the 18th century, Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centers. Its influences in politics, education, entertainment, science and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. The city is one of the world's leading tourism destinations, hosting four UNESCO WORLD Heritage Sites and many international organizations, including UNESCO and the European Space Agency. Paris is a prominent center in the arts, with a large number of theatres and museums such as the Louvre, Musée Picasso, Musée Rodin, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Musée de Cluny, and the Musée d'Orsay, hosting

the finest in French and world art. Many of its architectural masterpieces such as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Palace of Versailles are instantly recognizable as iconic buildings and symbols of the city worldwide. Also countless books and novels have been set in Paris, including Victor Hugo's “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Les Misérables” and Honoré de Balzac's “La Comédie Humaine”, classics of French literature. The city is a global hub of fashion and has been referred as the "international capital of style", noted for its haute couture tailoring, numerous high-end boutiques and the Paris Fashion Week. It is also world-renowned for its haute cuisine and gourmet, and as of 2013 Paris had over 9000 restaurants, of which 70 were Michelin-starred, more than any other city in the world. Many of the world's leading chefs operate restaurants serving French cuisine in Paris such as Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon, and many chefs worldwide come to the city to train under the best of the best in the restaurant industry.

PARIS

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HIGHLIGHTS The view of the ‘city of light’ by night is mesmerizing from the tip of the city’s iconic spire, with its 360-degree panoramas over Paris, the Eiffel Tower. Over 250 million people have ascended the tower to date. Most visit its three platforms (57m, 115m and 276m) in daytime hours, when, on a clear day, views from the top extend up to 60km. Nowhere encapsulates Paris’ village atmosphere more than its street markets. Not simply places to shop, the markets are social gatherings for the entire neighbourhoods, where residents toting quintessentially Parisian canvas shopping bags on wheels chat with stallholders and pick up culinary tips. Stretching a whopping 700m along the Seine, it’s estimated it would take nine months just to glance at every artwork in the world’s largest museum, the Louvre.

La belle Paris Travel days |4 days Accommodation | Hotel Activities | History, culture Reservations | Minimum 2 people

Paris is a collection of villages, and this 48-hectare cemetery of cobbled lanes and elaborate tombs the size of small houses qualifies as one in its own right - Cimetière du Père Lachaise. Among the cemetery’s celebrity residents are the composer Chopin; writers Molière, Apollinaire, Balzac, Proust, Wilde, Gertrude Stein (and Alice B Toklas) and Colette; artists Delacroix, Pissarro, Seurat and Modigliani; singers Édith Piaf and rock god Jim Morrison. The Luxembourg Gardens have a special place in the hearts of Parisians. Napoleon dedicated the gardens to the children of Paris, and many residents spent their childhood prodding little wooden sail boats with long sticks on the octagonal pond, watching marionettes perform Punch & Judy–type shows, and riding the carousel (merry-go-round) or ponies.

barcelona | spain

MADRID

About Madrid Madrid is the capital of Spain and its largest city, located on the Manzanares River. As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political, economic and cultural centre of the country. Due to its high quality of life, Madrid is considered one of the best cities in the world to live. And while it holds modern infrastructure at all levels, the city was able to preserve not only the appearance but also the joyful life and the "movida" to many of its historic neighborhoods and streets. Important historical and cultural center in Europe, some of its landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera House, the Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631, the 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of the most important Spain's historical archives, a large number of National museums, and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: Prado Museum, the Reina SofĂa Museum, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Plaza Cibelesâ&#x20AC;? and Cibeles Fountain become the most symbolic places of Madrid, one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities of all Europe.

MADRID

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HIGHLIGHTS The Palacio Real (or Royal Palace, also referred to as the Palacio de Oriente) is the lavish site of royal events, but is not home to the royal family (they have lived in the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela for some time). The Palacio Real is still a fascinating place to walk through though, with its maze of 50 themed rooms decorated in the finest metals and richest fabrics - though this is only a small sampling of the total 2,800 rooms of the palace. On the guided tour, you will also learn much about the interesting history behind the Bourbon dynasty, during whose reign the palace was most in use. Meaning "Great Road", Gran Vía is a main thoroughfare in Madrid, built to connect Calle de Alcalá to Plaza de España. Lined with a mixture of high end shops, eateries, and bars that cover both ends of the spectrum, this lively bustling street is best enjoyed at night when the locals and tourists alike come out to eat, drink, and mingle into the wee hours of the morning.

Madrid, wine and “tapas” Travel days | 4 days Accommodation | Hotel Activities | History and culture Reservations | Minimum 2 people

Besides the shopping and nightlife scene, Gran Vía is best known for the 20th century architecture that creates landmarks along its way. One such example is the Edificio Metropolis, which stands at the head of Gran Vía and boasts a magnificent rooftop statue of the Goddess Victory. There are also several old movie theatres including the Capitol, built in the art deco style. The Museo del Prado - Prado Museum - is considered to house one of the finest art collections in the world. It displays thousands of European paintings, sculptures, and other works of art throughout its halls - and this is only a fraction of their collection. The Centro de Arte Reina Sofia - or Reina Sofia Museum - is Madrid's premier modern art gallery featuring mostly works by Spanish artists. Amongst them is Guernica, a political statement on the Spanish Civil War by Picasso, as well as a room devoted to Joan Miró's paintings and a collection of about 20 Dalí pieces. The Almudena Cathedral is the official Cathedral of Madrid and is dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena. Taking over a century to complete, the Almudena is one of the youngest cathedrals in Europe, consecrated by Pope John II himself in 1993. A statue of the pope stands outside of the cathedral to mark the momentous occasion.

vatican | vatican

BARCELONA

About Barcelona

london | england

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid. Located on the Mediterranean coast, it is the largest metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea, with about five million people living in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudi and DomĂ¨nech Montaner , which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is also known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and many international sport tournaments.

Barcelona is today one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair/exhibitions and cultural-sports centres, and it is the fourth economically powerful city in the European Union. As of 2009 the city was ranked Europe's third and one of the world's most successful as a city brand. At the same time, the city was ranked Europe's fourth best city for business and fastest improving European city. Barcelona is the transport hub with one of Europe's principal ports, Barcelona international airport, which handles above 35 million passengers per year, extensive motorway network and also is a hub of high-speed rail, particularly that which is intended to link Spain with France and the rest of Europe as the second longest in the world.

BARCELONA

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HIGHLIGHTS The Sagrada Família is Barcelona's most famous landmark. The modernist church is far from completed though, it will take several more decades before the building and its 18 towers will be finished. La Rambla is the most famous street in Barcelona. The wide boulevard connects the Plaça de Catalunya, a busy square, with the Columbus Monument and the city's waterfront. The often crowded street is popular with tourists and locals alike. The middle part of the Rambla is pedestrianized and bordered by trees. Kiosks, flower stalls and street artists are in abundance here. Traffic passes on either side of the pedestrian area. The Montjuïc is a hill located near the center of Barcelona. It features a large number of attractions including the Spanish Village, the Magic Fountain and MNAC, one of the city's most important museums. Several thousand years ago, Iberic Celts settled on the Montjuïc, a 213 meter high hill southeast of Barcelona's current city center. The hill was later used by the Romans as a ceremonial place. Today the Montjuïc is a mostly recreational area with a large number of sights and attractions, most of them originating from two major events that took place here: the 1929 International Exhibition and the 1992 Olympics.

Barcelona, Gaudi’s city Travel days | 4 days Accommodation | Hotel Activities | History and culture Reservations | Minimum 2 people

Parc Güell is one of the world's most intriguing parks. The park's colorful main staircase and the fanciful pavilions that were designed by Antoni Gaudí look like they belong in some fairy tale. This popular park started out as a development project. Eusebi Güell, a well known Catalan industrialist, acquired a 17 hectare (42 acres) large hilly plot in the Gràcia district, north of Barcelona. He wanted to turn the area into a residential garden village based on English models. 60 Housing units as well as several public buildings were planned.

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