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Global Destinations: Europe & UK
Destinations: Home - Portugal Travel Guide - Travel Blog
Exploring Northern
Portugal: The Douro Valley and the Minho
Northern Portugal has
a more temperate climate, which means that the Douro Valley and the Minho are
beautifully scenic and green areas to visit. Port wine lodges, historic
buildings, pretty villages and cities, along with gorgeous scenery, make this
the perfect place to tour while on holiday in Portugal.
Touring the Douro
Valley
The Rio Douro (or “River
of Gold” in English) flows through the region for around 160 miles,
spreading all the way through five northern-central Spain provinces to the
Atlantic Ocean off Portugal. While originally the river flowed through wild
and rugged countryside, later on its banks were more widely developed,
allowing for visits to the historic towns and pretty villages all along the
way. Nestled
along the banks of the River Douro, the region’s capital, Porto, is a
fascinating and beautiful city which was dubbed European City of Culture in
2001. Due to this honour, restoration and repair was done throughout the
city, making it an ideal place to tour, with its baroque buildings and
port-wine houses.
Explore the medieval Ribeira district, with merchants’ houses and cute cafes lining the narrow, winding cobbled streets. Visit the 19th-century Palácio de Bolsa, which used to be the town’s stock market. The São Francisco Church has a beautiful baroque interior to view, with gilded carvings. Even the São Bento railway station is a beautiful visit, where you can see the beautiful, traditional tiled interiors. Pinhão is another delightful city to visit in the Douro valley, hugged by terraced hillside vineyards which are known for producing some of the world’s best port and table wines. Enjoy touring the wineries and the pretty town, where even the railway station is of interest to visit. Lamego
is a must-see city, where the beautiful Sé Cathedral is worth a visit along
with the city’s museum, exhibiting beautiful Flemish tapestries and fine
paintings. An attractive and historic building is the Santuário de Nossa
Senhora dos Remédios, pictured below, and there are many fascinating port wine
vineyards in the area.
A visit to the Minho
in Portugal
Next stop on a cultural tour of
the Douro Valley and the Minho, head to what the Portuguese rightly consider
as being their most beautiful region, while the Minho is less known as a
holiday destination. Sitting on the border with Galicia in Spain, two cities,
nestling in the beautiful natural scenery, are worth a visit. Guimarães is
home to a hilltop castle dating from the 10th century and the Dukes of
Bragança Palace which was constructed in the style of a French chateau. The
palace has a museum exhibiting tapestries, furniture and historic weapons.
The
other is Braga. Braga boasts the Bom Jesus do Monte religious complex at the
top of a hill, with a 17-flight stairway to the top. Easier to visit is the
Braga Cathedral with its Kings’ Chapel and museum of sacred art. The
Archbishop’s Palace in the city stands in front of the beautiful Santa
Barbara Garden, a green and restful space to enjoy.
Enjoy your tour of the Douro Valley and Minho, sampling delicious food and the best port wines in truly beautiful surroundings. |
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Latest update: August 21, 2018