21 Days • 3,247 km • In Memory of a Rally Champion
Trip Dedication
In Loving Memory of Giovanni Giacomo Zerla Salvi
July 8, 1940 – July 15, 2025
Rally Champion • Mentor • Friend
40 years ago, on TWA Flight 901 from Lisbon to JFK, I met the man who would change my life. Giovanni didn’t just introduce me to the car rental business – he showed me the American Dream was possible. Now, I’m completing the journey we always talked about, through the Portugal he loved.
DAY 1 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2025
POMBAL ? PIÓDÃO ? COIMBRA
Start: Pombal (39.9167,-8.6286)
Hidden Gem: Piódão Mountain Village (40.2289,-7.8256)
End: Coimbra (40.2104,-8.4292)
Distance: 145 km | Driving Time: 2h 45min
Restaurant: Museu da Chanfana, Miranda do Corvo – Chanfana (Giovanni’s favorite) €15-20
Hotel: Quinta das Lágrimas, Coimbra – €120/night
DAY 2 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2025
COIMBRA ? PASSADIÇOS DO PAIVA ? PORTO
Start: Coimbra (40.2104,-8.4292)
Hidden Gem: Passadiços do Paiva (40.9886,-8.2245)
End: Porto (41.1579,-8.6291)
Distance: 175 km | Time: 2h 30min
Restaurant: Casa do Pedro, Arouca – Vitela assada €20-25
Hotel: The Yeatman, Porto – €250/night
DAY 3 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
PORTO FULL DAY
Base: Porto (41.1579,-8.6291)
Morning: São Bento Station, Livraria Lello
Afternoon: Port wine cellars
Sunset: Jardim do Morro viewpoint
Lunch: Taberna dos Mercadores – €25
Dinner: O Paparico (Giovanni’s 1978 spot) – €50
DAY 4 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
PORTO ? DOURO VALLEY ? PINHÃO
Route: N-222 (World’s best driving road)
End: Pinhão (41.1889,-7.5467)
Distance: 125 km | Time: 2h
Wineries: Quinta do Crasto, Quinta da Pacheca
Hotel: Vintage House, Pinhão – €180/night
DAY 5 – SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
PINHÃO ? MONSANTO ? MARVÃO
Hidden Gem: Monsanto (40.0397,-7.1144)
End: Marvão (39.3938,-7.3769)
Distance: 285 km | Time: 4h
Lunch: Taverna Lusitana, Monsanto – €18
Hotel: Pousada de Marvão – €95/night
DAY 6 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2025
MARVÃO ? BERLENGA ISLAND ? ÓBIDOS
Ferry: 10:00 AM from Peniche
End: Óbidos (39.3606,-9.1566)
Distance: 180 km
Hotel: Casa do Relogio, Óbidos – €85/night
DAY 7 – SEPTEMBER 7, 2025
ÓBIDOS ? NAZARÉ ? ALCOBAÇA
Main: Nazaré (39.6012,-9.0687)
Special: Senhora da Nazaré Festival
Distance: 45 km
6:30 AM: Watch fishermen return
Lunch: Taverna do 8 ó 80 – €22
DAY 8 – SEPTEMBER 8, 2025
ALCOBAÇA ? SINTRA ? CABO DA ROCA
Main: Sintra (38.7223,-9.3901)
Sunset: Cabo da Roca (38.7803,-9.4989)
Distance: 110 km
Must See: Quinta da Regaleira (8:30 AM – no crowds!)
Hotel: Tivoli Palácio de Seteais – €220/night
DAY 9 – SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
SINTRA ? LISBON
Destination: Lisbon (38.7223,-9.1393)
Distance: 35 km
6 AM: Tram 28 (empty!)
Dinner: Cervejaria Ramiro (Giovanni’s favorite) – €50
Hotel: Memmo Alfama – €150/night
DAY 10 – SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
LISBON ? SETÚBAL ? COMPORTA
Hidden Gem: Comporta (38.3806,-8.7861)
Distance: 95 km
Lunch: Museu do Arroz, Comporta – €35
Hotel: Sublime Comporta – €280/night
DAY 11 – SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
COMPORTA ? ÉVORA ? MONSARAZ
Main: Évora (38.5714,-7.9093)
End: Monsaraz (38.4443,-7.3753)
Distance: 140 km
Must See: Bone Chapel, Almendres Cromlech
Hotel: São Lourenço do Barrocal – €350/night
DAY 12 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2025
MONSARAZ ? MÉRTOLA ? CASTRO VERDE
End: Castro Verde (37.6985,-8.0853)
Distance: 165 km
Special: Bird sanctuary, abandoned windmills
Hotel: Herdade da Matinha – €90/night
DAY 13 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2025
CASTRO VERDE ? LAGOS ? PONTA DA PIEDADE
Main: Lagos (37.1028,-8.6730)
Distance: 120 km
6:30 AM: Ponta da Piedade sunrise
Lunch: O Camilo restaurant – €30
Hotel: Cascade Wellness Resort – €180/night
DAY 14 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
LAGOS ? BENAGIL CAVE ? ALBUFEIRA
Main Event: Benagil Cave (37.0873,-8.4328)
Distance: 65 km
7 AM: Kayak to cave (pre-booked)
Hotel: Vila Joya – €400/night
DAY 15 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
ALBUFEIRA ? TAVIRA ? CACELA VELHA
Main: Tavira (37.1273,-7.6486)
Hidden: Cacela Velha (37.1458,-7.5397)
Distance: 85 km
Lunch: Polvo & Companhia – €25
Hotel: Fazenda Nova – €200/night
DAY 16 – SEPTEMBER 16, 2025
CACELA VELHA ? MONCHIQUE
Mountain Route: Via Algarviana
End: Monchique (37.3176,-8.5550)
Distance: 110 km
Highlight: Fóia peak (902m)
Hotel: Macdonald Monchique – €120/night
DAY 17 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
MONCHIQUE ? SAGRES ? COSTA VICENTINA
Main: Sagres (37.0067,-8.9487)
Distance: 95 km
Must See: Cabo São Vicente lighthouse
Hotel: Memmo Baleeira – €140/night
DAY 18 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
SAGRES ? ALJEZUR ? SINES
Coastal Route: N-268
End: Sines (37.9562,-8.8743)
Distance: 145 km
Hotel: Hotel Sines Coastal – €85/night
DAY 19 – SEPTEMBER 19, 2025
SINES ? LISBON
Return to: Lisbon
Distance: 150 km
Farewell Dinner: Solar dos Presuntos – €45
Hotel: Four Seasons Lisbon – €350/night
DAY 20 – SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
LISBON – GIOVANNI MEMORIAL DAY
Morning: TWA 901 memorial at airport
Afternoon: Giovanni’s favorite spots
Evening: Fado dinner in Alfama
Special Stops: José Maria da Fonseca winery, Pastéis de Belém
DAY 21 – SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 – JOURNEY COMPLETE
LISBON ? POMBAL (CIRCLE COMPLETE)
Final Destination: Pombal
Distance: 135 km
Total Trip: 3,247 km
Final Ceremony: Castle at sunset, Rally club memorial
“3,247 kilometers. 21 days. One promise kept. Giovanni, we made it home.”
TRIP TOTALS
Distance: 3,247 km
Days: 21
Locations: 80+
Hidden Gems: 25
Budget: €4,500
“Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and teach us to chase horizons. This journey is for you, Giovanni.”
From TWA Flight 901 to 3,247 kilometers of friendship
October 18, 1985 – September 21, 2025
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