In the footsteps of Ginnie Dennistoun
19 - 21 JUNE 2026
Based on the book "A Inglesa e o Marialva" and with the participation of the writer Clara Macedo Cabral
Who was Virginia Montsol? A boarding school educated daughter of a racehorse trainer from Hampshire, Rose Virginia Dennistoun rebelled after being sent to a finishing school in Switzerland and decided she wanted to be a bullfighter. Unable to find a coach in Spain, at the young age of 22, she resolved to try in Portugal in 1962. Through contacts she was introduced to prominent Portuguese families in the equestrian world, who in turn introduced her to her coach, Alberto Luís Lopes, who taught her the art of bullfighting. She became the third ever woman bullfighter in Portugal and chose the petit nom of Virginia Montsol. This was no mean feat, being a foreigner and a woman in the closed society of Salazar's dictatorship in the '60s. She became quite a celebrity in the male-dominated world of bullfighting and fell passionately in love with Alberto. They lived a discreet romance in a small cottage near Chamusca, in the Ribatejo, which remains the heart of the equine community in Portugal. However after four years she returned to the Britain, her decision influenced by a combination of factors: the undercurrent of gossip regarding her relationship, family pressure led by her father, and the stark contrast of the Swinging Sixties and women's emancipation in Britain which had rapidly advanced in her absence. Her love for Alberto remained strong and he even proposed marriage, which Virginia felt forced to decline, as he had received an irrecusable offer to work in Mexico, where there was little opportunity for her. She got over her broken heart and married an Englishman who was an amateur jockey in 1967 and went on to have two children and grandchildren. In 2008 she sadly died from multiple sclerosis, aged 67, having fought to the end. After Mexico, Alberto ended up married in Spain, where he died in 1995
Programme
A Cultural and Romantic Journey through the Ribatejo
Featuring the charming villages of Chamusca and Golegã
FRIDAY 19 JUNE 2026 | Lisbon »» Golegã
14.30 Departure from the Casino do Estoril (bus stop in front of the north entrance to the Casino).
15.15 Departure from Lisbon (Museu de Lisboa, 245 Campo Grande, 1700-091 Lisboa).
17.00 Estimated time of arrival at the elegant HOTEL LUSITANO 4* for two nights stay.
- Time to stroll through the historic horse capital of Portugal, where Lusitano horses reign.
19.30 Dinner at the hotel
SATURDAY 20 JUNE 2026 | Chamusca - A Love Story in the Heart of Ribatejo
11.00 Guided visit of Casa-Estúdio Carlos Relvas, in Golegã, the 19th century home that was also the state-of-the-art photographic studio of the renowned photographer and horseman Carlos Relvas.
12.15 Visit the picturesque village of Chamusca, where Englishwoman Ginnie Dennistoun (Montesol) found love and inspiration in the 1960s:
- See the Coreto da Vila, heart of local gatherings and visit the Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Pranto, a serene spot with a panoramic view of the Ribatejo plains.
13.00 Authentic Ribatejo lunch at the Casal do Vale Formoso private estate, hosted by a local family.
15.30 Visit to Casalinho do Bonfim, where Ginnie and her beloved Alberto Luíz Lopes once lived.
- Explore their romantic home and horse-training grounds.
- Walk to the Ermida do Senhor do Bonfim, the highest point of Chamusca, overlooking two distinct landscapes - the fertile lezíria and the dry charneca.
17.30 Return to the hotel.
19.30 Dinner at the hotel.
SUNDAY 21 JUNE 2026 | Santarém & the Ribatejo
10.15 Check out of the hotel and drive to Alpiarça.
11.00 Visit the Casa-Museu Casa de Patudos, the home of José Relvas, the son of Carlos Relvas, a Republican whom is reputed to have hoisted the Republican flag from the balcony of the Lisbon Town Hall (Câmara) on 5 October 1910 and who briefly served as the country's Prime Minister in 1919.
12.30 Lunch (restaurant tbc)
14.45 Visit Santarém, capital of Gothic architecture in Portugal:
- Igreja do São João de Alporão,
- Igreja da Santa Maria da Graça to see the grave of Pedro Alves Cabral,
- Porta do Sol Garden, with panoramic views over the River Tagus.
16.30 Departure for the return journey to Lisbon
18.00 Estimated time of arrival at Campo Grande, Lisbon.
18.30 Estimated time of arrival at the Casino do Estoril
| Package Rate | Min. 20 Participants |
|---|---|
| Per Person in Double room | 565€ |
| Per Person in Single room | 690€ |
Rate per person, in Euros, including the following services:
- Deluxe Tourism Coach for the whole trip
- 02 overnights in Golegã at the Hotel Lusitano & Spa 4* with buffet breakfast included
- 02 Dinners at the Hotel Lusitano Restaurant (drinks included)
- 02 Lunches
- Local City Taxes & VAT
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION - 28 FEBRUARY
Kindly fill in the registration form and send it to incoming@lusanova.pt to request payment details
Registration is only considered valid on confirmation by Lusanova and after full payment, in accordance with the policy outlined below:
- 40% Payment of a deposit on booking
- 60% Payment of the balance by the deadline of 18 MARCH
Cancellation Policy:
- Cancellation of bookings is possible if written notification reaches Lusanova before 18 MARCH, in which case amounts paid will be refunded in full.
- Thereafter, 50% of the total cost will be refunded if notification is received by 30 APRIL;
- No refunds will be given if notification is received after 30 APRIL
IMPORTANT REMARK
The trip may be cancelled should the minimum number of participants not be achieved
The trip may still go ahead with a reduced number of people on the condition that a supplement will be charged; the amount of this surcharge will be informed upon request and according to the final number of confirmed participants.