Points of Interest
- Lisbon
- Sintra, Cascais, & Estoril
- Between Lisbon & Porto
- Porto and the North
- Eastern Portugal
- Evora and The Alentejo
- Southern Portugal and the Algarve
Travel to Porto and The North with Heritage Tours Private Travel
The Douro River winds its way towards the Atlantic from the vineyards of central Spain through the terraced slopes of its verdant valley. At its mouth is the enchanting city of Porto.
Best known for the sweet wine which carries its name, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Porto is a hard place not to like. How can one not like a city whose official name is Antiga, Mui Nobre Sempre Leal e Invicta Cidade do Porto—the ancient, very noble always loyal and unvanquished city of Porto.
There is certainly its picture-postcard beauty of its setting straddling the Douro. And the ornate buildings, squares and statuary that comprise its urban fabric.
Yet, if you scratch the surface with Heritage Tours Private Travel, you will find a city that is eclectic, a bit quirky and full of the unexpected.
Porto is a city that appeals to all your senses. Savor the scents of 19th century port lodges and the rich aromas of coffee in well-worn cafes. Indulge in the tasty specialties of her pastry houses. Feast your intellect and your eyes in a unique bookstore owned by the same family for 200 years or in a world-class collection of contemporary art housed in a stunning museum.
The unexpected includes as well an iconic bridge by Gustave Eiffel (of tower-building fame), a baroque viewing tower, and a collection of buildings of the late 20th century by the esteemed Porto school, centered around the work of Pritzker-laureate and local son Alvaro Siza. If this weren’t enough, 21st century superstar (and Pritzker-laureate himself) Rem Koolhaas built the cutting-edge Casa de Musica.
Beyond Porto lies the green valley of the Douro River, the River of Gold (and yes, another UNESCO World Heritage site). The Douro was until recently filled with barges transporting its precious liquid cargo to the port lodges of Gaia in Porto. Its terraced slopes are too steep to be worked by machine; hence, the harvested grapes have traditionally been crushed by human feet.
The first region in the world to become an official demarcation for the production of wine, wine was first brought to the Douro by the Romans. Although best known for its port, northern Portugal has in recent years earned a reputation for producing some of Europe’s most interesting new reds. Conveniently, the Douro is also home to a couple of Portugal’s most luxurious hotels.
The areas around Porto and the Douro are, like most of Portugal, dense in history, heritage and beauty. One of our favorites is Amarante, along the Tamega River, founded in 400 BC and the birthplace of a beloved local artist.
Picturesque towns well off the beaten path line one of the important pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Other excellent cities include Braga, Braganca and Viana do Castelo. The Thursday market in Barcelos is said to date to the 15th century. And the well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage site of Guimares was the first capital of Portugal and the birthplace of the Portuguese language.
And just in case you think there is not enough to see or do, Heritage Tours Private Travel can arrange private wine tastings or cooking lessons, offers excellent hiking opportunities and can arrange for you to see one of Europe’s most extensive collections of rock art. It is only about 22,000 years old.
We can arrange for you to travel to your hotel by private boat up the Douro and even participate in the seasonal grape harvest and crushing.
Let Heritage Tours Private Travel work our magic for you in northern Portugal. Call our experts at 800 378 4555.
