In Hand x Patterns of Portugal
An immersive, intimate trip into the craft culture of Portugal’s Alentejo
April 25 - May 1, 2025
$5,000 per person
LED BY: Meghan McEwen of In Hand, and author of Patterns of Portugal, Christine Chitnis
During this one-time week-long trip to the artisan heart of Portugal, we will visit the soulful, slow-paced Alentejo (sometimes referred to as the Tuscany of Portugal) with its cork forests, olive groves, ancient castle ruins, and people and places holding fast to the old ways of making things by hand. With a small, intimate group of no more than 10, we will crisscross this stunning countryside, visiting back-alley olarias (pottery studios), magic-making textile mills, and villages and museums dedicated to telling the stories of traditional Portuguese craft.
In keeping with the rhythms of the countryside, we will take our time, moving slowly and intentionally. When we’re not exploring the regional crafts, there will be ample downtime for delighting in the beauty of our surroundings.
We will visit traditional pottery villages that have been producing ceramics for more than 100 years; an incredible museum dedicated to large-scale decorative tapestries and corresponding factory; a working mill that still hand-looms the famous wool mantas de reguengos (reguengos blankets) that kept shepherds warm in the winter. We’ll explore antique markets and medieval towns. There will be country walks, long dinners, and meaningful hotels you’ll never want to leave.
Suggested Itinerary (With Just Enough Room for Spontaneity)
Day 1
We will touch down in Lisbon for a full morning of tile exploration and education. We’ll get to know one another over a delicious brunch before a private guided tour of the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, housed in a former convent with tiles dating back to the 1400s. We’ll arrive at our hotel—also a former convent— in time to explore the extraordinary historic hotel (that doubles as a museum) and grounds before dusk. Dinner in the magical courtyard.
Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel and then directly to the incredible Saturday Estromoz Antique Market, which is flush with ceramics, copperware, textiles and an unmatched local vibe. We will visit the newly opened Museu Berardo, set in the historic Tocha Palace—a collaboration between one of the country’s largest private collectors and the city government. The inaugural exhibition follows 800 years of the gorgeous azulejos tiles and features the largest private collection in the country. Dinner at an award-winning family restaurant in the countryside.
Day 3
Most of our day is spent in Arraiolos. With its whitewashed buildings, open-door workshops lining the street, and rugs hanging out second-story windows, it’s still very much centered around its centuries-old tradition of hand-embroidered rugs dating back to the 16th century. Starting with a private tour of the thorough and engaging museum. Our evening ends in Evora, where you’ll see the ancient Roman temple and enjoy dinner and time to explore on your own.
Day 4
In a small town north of our hotel, we’ll visit the incredible Museo de Tapicería and tour the Guy Fino factory, where only one or two women carry the tradition of these 100-year-old specialty looms. We’ll also tour the house museum, which was once the home of renowned poet Jose Regio, who was an avid collector of interesting objects. It will be our last night at this hotel, so we’ve made sure to include downtime to enjoy the beautiful grounds.
Day 5
We’ll get an exslusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Fabricaal—an historic mill that makes beautifully patterned heritage wool blankshepherds blankets—by one of the owners, and we’ll have the special opportunity to see the weavers work on antique wooden looms and learn about the history of this traditional, place-based craft. We also move hotels, getting us closer to the medieval hilltop town of Monsaraz, where we will have ample time to explore and enjoy dinner independently.
Day 6
Explore Corval – one of the largest ceramic artisan communities in Portugal with a group lunch in town. For our last full day together, we will indulge in an afternoon spent on the incredible grounds of the hotel, where we can enjoy a guided countryside walk and talk through the beautiful, archaeologically rich landscape, time at the pool, or one of the many optional activities offered (horse riding, bike rides, or a workshop).
Day 7
Departure day: We will facilitate two departure times for the airport—very early and midmorning. If you will be spending time in Lisbon at the beginning or end of this trip, we’ll provide recommended itineraries to help guide you through the city, including hotels, museums, a few restaurants and shops, and favorite city walks.
Where You’ll Sleep
We will split our time between two incredible—and wildly different—hotels in the Alentejo.
| What’s Included in Price |
Lodging in beautiful hotels for all six nights, single-room occupancy.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday with the exception of two meals—when you’ll have the opportunity to explore towns/restaurants on own.
All transportation, starting at the Ludovice on the morning of Day One, ending at the airport on Day Seven.
All museum tickets, private tours and talks.
A complimentary copy of Patterns of Portugal by Christine Chitnis
| What’s Not Included in Price |
Airfare to and from Lisbon.
Incidentals and free-time activities.
Optional hotel services (ie, spa treatments) or extra meals/snacks throughout.
Mandatory travel insurance to cover emergencies, cancellations, illness, etc.
FAQs
What are the arrival details?
We will meet in Lisbon mid-morning (location for meet-up forthcoming). You may choose to arrive the day before; otherwise, we recommend taking a taxi from the airport directly to our meet-up location, where you will be greeted with a welcome brunch before we head to our first destination. We recommend flying into the Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon.
What are Departure details?
We offer early-morning transportation to the airport to accommodate morning flight times. If you would like to rely on this pre-arranged transportation, we recommend not selecting a flight earlier than 10am (understanding that later flights mean additional time waiting at the airport). If you plan to stay in Portugal longer—or would like to maximize your time at the hotel in the morning— you have the option of organizing your own transportation. We are happy to help with recommendations.
Can i share a room with a friend?
It is possible to make arrangements for a double-occupancy hotel room (with twin beds) at a reduced cost of $500.
Do i need travel insurance?
Yes, travel insurance is mandatory. This will cover unexpected cancellations for any reason, as In Hand Travels is not liable for cancellations within 90 days prior to the trip. It will also cover other unlikely issues across a broad range: illness, theft, luggage loss, etc.
What is the cancellation policy?
If you cancel at least 90 days prior to departure, any payments beyond the $2,000 non-refundable deposit will be refunded in full. No refunds possible for cancellation within 90 days of departure. Again, travel insurance will protect unexpected cancellations.
Will we have time to explore Lisbon?
We will visit the incredible Museu Nacional do Azulejo before heading out to the countryside. For a more thorough experience of the city, we recommend arriving a day or two early so you’ll have time to explore Lisbon (and adjust to the time change!). We will give everyone a guide to our favorite places in the city. We’ll be staying at the Ludovice in preparation of our morning meet-up— a very convenient option for all our guests.
What are payment details?
You’ll need to secure your spot with a nonrefundable $2,000 deposit. You are welcome to pay for the entire trip all at once or in two separate installments, with the last payment due by Feb 1, 2025. You can pay on the registration page by credit card or Apple Pay.