Porto and North

Porto and North

Porto is often affectionately known as ‘O porto’ in deference to its relationship with port wine. Leading into the city, port vineyards curl elegantly across the countryside, with white manor houses dotted throughout.
Porto itself has fairly humble beginnings – in 1120 it was little more than a walled collection of houses. When Queen Dona Teresa bequeathed it to Bishop Dom Hugo, it grew to prominence as a safe and strategic port for cargo ships.
Further inland, there are a collection of idyllic towns and villages for the traveller to explore, or you can just soak up the exquisite beauty of the Douro Valley.

Sightseeing

PORTO
Half day with wine tasting
Visit the beautiful and mysterious lady, one of the most ancient cities of Europe with plenty of historic and cultural memories. A unique and unforgettable tour through the “Bairro da Sé”, the heart of ancient PORTO of medieval roots ta a famous wine cellar
From the Cathedral to the Port Wine Cellars, everything makes this journey memorable, in an environment rich in History, Tradition and Culture.

AVIERO AND COIMBRA
Full day incl. lunch
The old port and fishing town of Aveiro is attractively situated on the east side of the Ria de Aveiro, a lagoon 47km long. Known as the Venice of Portugal, Aveiro is surrounded by salt-flats, beaches and lagoons and dominated by the Central Canal running through town. The city of Aveiro is crossed by canals, which give it quite an individual character, and in the old quarter tourists can see the quaint whitewashed houses of the fishermen and visit, early in the morning, the Mercado do Peixe, an auction of the fish caught during the night.
The many medieval features Aveiro has managed to preserve do make it very attractive. This is due in no small measure to the barcos moliceiros and a canal trip on one of these boats shows some magnificent Art Nouveau buildings and house fronts decorated with beautiful azulejos.
Coimbra – Famous for its university, ceramics and fado music, Coimbra is a quaint town offering winding cobblestone alleys, commercial plazas and hilltop views overlooking the Rio Mondego. Coimbra, a wonderful mix of centuries of culture, is one of Portugal’s major historic capitals and is divided in the upper part – the Episcopal and University section – and lower part near the river – the shopping district.
From the more modern lower town on the right bank of the Mondego steep lanes climb to the upper town, with the extensive buildings of the University, on a hill 100m above the river. This University, rich in history and said to be the oldest seat of learning in Portugal, was founded in the XIII century.
Cafes on Largo da Portagem near Avenida Emídio Navarro overlook a grassy area with flowerbeds and offer a place to watch locals. Or, feel the rapture as you sip your coffee beneath the solemn looking Igreja Santiago on Praça do Comercio. Many of the restaurants along the main plazas also offer outdoor seating as well as full menus.
Coimbra’s historic centre is full of ancient alleyways. But to feel the atmosphere, the best route is to stroll along the Rua Ferreira Borges/Rua Visconde da Luz, Coimbra’s main shopping street. Shops, galleries, and cafes line Coimbra’s streets, including an assortment of bars and wine taverns catering to the student population of the city. The Arco de Almedina just off of Rua Ferreira Borges is the gateway to the Upper town.
Once you pass through Almedina arch the cobblestones rise to meet you on a consistent upward stretch. About half way up the hill you’ll meet up with the Quebra Costas (Backbreaker) stairs.
Among many other historic buildings worth a visit we have the Romanesque Sé Velha (imposing, castle-like structure, one of the most important Romanesque Roman Catholic buildings in Portugal).

DOURO VALLEY WINE TOUR
Full day incl. lunch and tastings
A guided tour through the beautiful landscapes of the Douro Valley having the opportunity to visit three different Wine Estates and taste four different types of Portuguese wine: Sparkling wine, Douro table wine, Port wine and Green wine («Vinho Verde»). The lunch will be in a typical restaurant, where you will enjoy some of the traditional gastronomy and will also appreciate some wine produced in the Douro Valley.