Walk along the oldest wine region of the world. Founded by the Marquis of Pombal, Port wine county is not only about wine makers. Gastronomy, culture, history, stunning landscape and people, embrace the finest glass of Port.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet & greet at Oporto airport and transportation to the hotel at Cinfães, by the Douro river side. About Cinfães area: Set at the foothill of the Montemuro Mountains (with peaks rising over 1000 metres, or 3300 feet) and just above the river Douro, the town of Cinfães is surrounded by a verdant landscape and is the agricultural centre of a region producing namely corn, wine and oranges.
Across the county there are equally magnificent views over the river and its terraced banks, namely near the Carrapatelo Dam. In contrast with the bucolic landscape of the Douro valley, the Montemuro Mountains are sometimes considered the most unknown of Portugal, remote and wild and with typical villages exhibits Romanesque columns flanking the portal and a 14th-century Gothic. The region´s gastronomy includes typical dishes such as the "sopa seca à moda do Minho" ("dry soup" with wheat bread, chicken, beef, ham, sausages and cabages) and "esparregado de feijão verde" (a kind of purée of haricots spiced with vinegar).
Cinfães has 17 parishes with an area of over 243 square kilometres and 25,000 inhabitants. Prehistoric man lived here; there are archaeological vestiges and sites. In 1513 King Manuel gave a charter to this town. Egas Moniz used to be the squire here and King Afonso Henriques spent his early years here with him. Agriculture is the principal source of income: Sparkling wine, corn and fruits. The local cuisine is varied and the crafts are still used in day to day life, such as baskets, grape baskets, clogs and straw hats. Cinfães has managed to preserve some of the best buildings despite some confusion.
Day 2(12km): Our walking journey starts with a track by the river side, along small villages and ancient places over the Douro river banks up to Resende. About Resende area: On the threshold of the Port wine-growing region, the county of Resende is known, however, for another agricultural produce: cherries, in whose honour a festival is held each May, attracting large numbers of visitors.
Resende boasts of other valuable assets, namely an historical and architectural patrimony which includes pre-historic monuments, remarkable churches and beautiful manor-houses.
The most interesting archaeological sites are the megalithic station of São Cristóvão and the proto-historic settlements of Mogueira and Santa Maria de Cárquere. In terms of religious architecture, Resende exhibits several Romanesque treasures, such as the church of São Martinho de Mouros (dating from 12th century and resembling a military fortification), the church of Santa Maria de Cárquere (displaying a tower with battlements and a minute ivory carving of the Virgin Mary, probably of Visigothic origin) and the Mother Church of Barrô (dating from the 13th-century, with a 17th-century tower and main-altar with precious sculptures).
Across the county, wonderful manor-houses rise on beautiful estates and farms, such as the 18th-century Solar de Soenga, at São Martinho de Moiros, the Casa de Porto de Rei, on a terraced slope near the River Douro, or the Casa da Torre da Lagariça, at the parish of São Cipriano, depicted in a novel by the great 19th-century Portuguese author Eça de Queiroz. Traditional arts and crafts have not been lost at Resende and visitors will find a variety of handicrafts, from unusual black pottery, straw hats and basketry to embroideries, lace and rag carpets, among other objects. The local gastronomy is equally rich and offers excellent cured meats, a delicious roast lamb and the typical cavacas of Resende (a light, crisp kind of cake), among other specialities.
Day 3 (15km): Leaving the river banks we step into the heart of agricultural and historic places up tp the heart of Port wine. About Lamego area: At the heart of the Douro valley, Lamego is an attractive town surrounded by vineyards, producing port, red and sparkling wines, and fruit orchards. A pilgrimage site, it is dominated by the great Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, dedicated to the Virgin, with an 18th-century church rising at the top of an imposing double stairway formed by 686 stone steps and nine terraces decorated with different Baroque sculptures.
Otherwise, the county is full of churches and small chapels and the importance of the local religious architecture is particularly visible at Lamego's Gothic Cathedral (founded in 1129, still preserving the original square tower and including three naves painted by Nasoni and a beautiful Renaissance cloister), the Romanesque church of Almacave (where Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, is said to have gathered the first Cortes, or national assembly, in 1143) and the temple of São Pedro de Balsemão, at about four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the seat of the county, considered the oldest church in Portugal (7th century).
Lamego's illustrious past is also portrayed by the 11th-century Castle, the Keep (12th-13th centuries) or the fine Baroque mansions at the town's historical centre. Lamego boasts of an excellent Municipal Museum, housed at the former Bishops' Palace (18th century) and displaying paintings by Grão Vasco (16th century), religious art and Renaissance tapestries, among other interesting collections.
At table, Lamego is famous for its excellent hams, the traditional bola de carne (rich bead dough layered with cured pork) and delicious recipes of roast kid with oven-baked rice. Every year, on the 8th of September, the pilgrimage to the shrine consecrated to Our Lady is accompanied by a torchlight procession and an animated fair which lasts for several days. The town is located at the Northeast foot of the Montemuro mountains and is 12 kilometres from the Douro River. It is the capital for the Regional Tourist Office of Douro South. It is the epicenter for the production of sweet and sparkling wines. The famous Port wine was born here. In the 16th century an English merchant discovered this "nectar" and introduced it into England.
However it is not just the wines that make Lamego famous; every September thousands of pilgrims descend on the town for the religious festival of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. The sanctuary was and is a major attraction. Many different peoples have passed through Lamego and left their mark. First the Romans, followed by the Visigoths. After 4 centuries of war between the Moors and Christians, Lamego was conquered by Fernando Magno of Leon in 1057. In 1102 the Moorish King Echa Matim and Count Henrique fought the Battle of Arouca here. Egas Moniz helped the Count and they won. The Moor was captured and converted to Catholicism. The Count then made him the Lord of Lamego. Lamego was already a city in 570 CE. It was elevated to a diocese in 1071 and received its first charter in 1191 from King Sancho I and again in 1514 from King Manuel. The populace grew during the time of Egas Moniz who had a house here near Britiande, where his wife raised the children of King Afonso Henriques. Today the city has 30,000 inhabitants and 24 parishes south of the Douro.
Day 4 (13km): Dedicated day to soft walks around Lamego city, exploring vineyards and local Port wine farms and of course, wine tasting.
Day 5 (10km): A soft walking day along Port wine landscapes up to Régua. About Régua area: Régua is the capital of the demarcated region which produces the famous Port wine and conquered its commercial and strategic statute when it was chosen by the Marquis of Pombal to lodge the administrative centre of the High Douro wines, in 1756. It was also from here that the rabelos, traditional wooden sailing boats, carried the barrels of Port along the hazardous Douro river to the lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia, close to Oporto.
Surrounded by vineyards and handsome country estates, Régua has developed from a quiet and provincial town to a more animated centre offering several attractions and initiatives in which the river plays a major role. Thus, visitors will find at the riverside zone a fluvial pier from where boats leave on cruises along the Douro, walks for pedestrians, tennis courts, swimming pools and fishing facilities, as well as handicrafts shops, bars, restaurants and cafés open until late.
At Régua, it is also worth admiring the Casa do Douro with its stain-glassed windows depicting the history and production of Port, the 18th-century Mother Church and manors such as the Solar dos Vaz.
Many traditional quintas (country estates) of the region welcome visitors and offer wine tasting and tours to the vineyards and wine cellars and presses, such as the pretty Quinta da Pacheca, at about four kilometres (2.5 miles) from Régua, founded in 1738. Across the county, visitors may taste and buy both Port and excellent table wines, either at the adega cooperativa (co-operative cellar) of Régua or at several estates.
Day 6: Departure by train from Peso da Régua, along Douro River till historic São Bento Train Station in central Oporto, From there direct transportation to the airport and end of our services.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
This tour includes: a local English speaking walking tour leader/guide; transportation from and to Oporto airport; 3* and 4* hotel accommodation; 5 dinners; 5 breakfasts; luggage transportation; travel insurance; visit to Port vineyards and farms; wine tasting; train ticket. Run year round with fixed departures every first Sunday of each month. Prices are per person based on double shared room. Single room supplement: 280€
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Portugal
Walking Tours
Food & Wine
|
