The Details
Your week begins in Porto – the capital of the north, famous for its mix of modern and medieval architecture. Porto is keeper of Portugal’s most-famous tipple, port wine – our guide will help you to get orientated with a tour of the city, crossing the landmark Ponte de Dom Luis I Bridge into twin-city Gaia do Nova where you’ll sample the latest vintages in its south bank port houses.
Leaving the city by hire car, you’ll pass through the medieval city of Guimaraes, birthplace of Portugal, before overnighting in the old spa town of Vidago – once the19th century playground of the Braganza royal dynasty. Urban Portugal fades as your route takes you into the beautiful wine valleys of the Alto Douro, where the whole port production process begins.
The region produces one-third less than the country’s other wine regions: quality not quantity are the watchwords in the Douro Valley, and the wines produced are coveted for their robust, full-bodied flavour. After a relaxing stay in the riverfront hamlet of Pinhao, you’ll pick-up the N222 – famously one of the country’s prettiest drives, meandering through the vineyards and valleys of Peso da Regua and Lamego.
You’ll end your stay in old town Amarante on the banks of the Tamega river. Amarante is popular for its confectionaries and its vinho verde – a delicious, young wine which is a speciality of the Entre-Douro-e-Minho region. Amarante also holds a certain notoriety across Portugal for its Sao Goncalo matchmaking festival, where the young ladies of the town are offered phallic-shaped pastries from potential suitors. Rest assured, that’s an optional part of your holiday.
