Private tours in Oporto & surroundings
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Program
Amarante - Amarante lies east of Porto between the city and Vila Real. It sits right on the picturesque River Tamega over
which the Sao Goncalo bridge gives you stunning views of the town and leads you to the striking 16th century Sao Goncalo
convent. Sao Goncalo He was a 13th century hermit upon whose reputation the church was founded. It is said that if those
searching for a loved one touch Sao Goncalo's statue on the outside of his tomb that lies in Sao Goncalo convent, they will
have their wish granted. It is obviously a tradition that has been followed by many a single person as the face, toes and fingers
of the statue have all but been rubbed away by hopeful romantics. Don't miss the delicious pastry typical of this town.
Régua - Is the official centre of the Port wine growing region. The town has been known for over two centuries as the "Capital
of the Upper Douro" because of its role in the Port industry. Regua is also the junction and the depot through which all the
wine must pass on its way to Porto. Once in the area, guests should take the opportunity to visit "Casa do Douro" to learn
about the history and production of Port Wine.
Pinhão - Twenty two kilometres upstream of Peso da Regua is Pinhao, the current port wine capital. The town lies at the
base of hillsides covered in vines where the Douro and Pinhao rivers meet. Pinhao is dominated by the various port wine
lodges and once again there are a variety of quintas from which you can taste the local wines. Pinhao is a good base from which
to explore the Douro wine region.
Mateus - The Mateus Palace is located in the civil parish of Mateus, municipality of Vila Real, Portugal, which was built in
the 18th century. Mateus Palace and gardens, made famous by its picture on each bottle of Mateus rosé wine, has been
described as the most fantastic country house in Portugal.
Mateus wine is a medium sweet sparkling rosé produced in Portugal. The brand was created in 1942 and production began at
the end of World War II. The wine was especially styled to appeal to the rapidly developing North American and northern
European markets. Production grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s and by the late 1980's, supplemented by a white version,
it accounted for over 40% of Portugal's table wine exports.
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...The River Douro rises in Spain and flows more or less East – West across Northern Portugal reaching the sea at Portugal’s
second city, Oporto. Once a fast flowing river of rapids and narrow ravines it has been tamed over the past 25 years by the
construction of 8 dams along its length giving it, in most places, a tranquil, lake-like appearance. The valley is spectacularly
beautiful with the hills falling steeply down to the water´s edge becoming more and more sparsely populated and wild the further
inland one travels, with more of the land being given over to terraces of vines. This is port country and was, in fact, the world´s
first demarcated wine region in 1756. The color of the land changes throughout the year as the vines mature. The reaches of the
Douro have a microclimate, allowing for cultivation of olives, almonds, and especially grapes, with its picturesque quintas or
farms clinging on to almost vertical slopes dropping down to the river...
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