Nature meets culture at the stunningly beautiful Douro Valley, an outstanding manmade landscape, which has been producing some of the world’s best wines for nearly two thousand years. The world’s oldest demarcated wine region, created by the Marquis of Pombal in 1756, is the birthplace of Port wine and has been on the World Heritage List since 2001.
Visit it once, and you will never forget its endless charm and unexpected magic.
With its terraced slopes with vineyards overlooking the serpentine river, its natural belvederes with breathtaking views, its changing colors, and lovely winemaking villages, the Douro is a majestic, yet intimate, scenery. While wine culture is definitely at home here, there is a lot more to experience at the Douro valley, where baroque manor houses and sumptuous family-owned wine estates offer the perfect setting for a secluded and stylish break.
The perfect way to start your discovery of the Douro valley is by boat – on a vintage private yacht, a modern cruise, or on a traditional wooden Rabelo, slowly making its way up the river, you will marvel at the most amazing landscape, with its beautiful hillsides, green in summer and vividly red after the harvest, where famous wine estates, or quintas, nestle.
In the heart of the Douro Valley, for a true taste of tradition, don’t miss the small village of Pinhão, with its historical train station embellished by ancient azulejos depicting the region’s rich wine culture. The region’s many belvederes, on both banks of the river, offer spectacular views. Miradouro da Boavista, north of the beautiful town of Lamego, known for its medieval historical center and monuments, is one of the prettiest.
The Douro is of course known for its one-of-a-kind wine tourism experiences and exquisite gastronomic offer. Discerning travelers will love to have access to the most exclusive wineries and taste world-class wines in breathtaking settings. You can have a hands-on experience, going through all the stages of the winemaking process, from harvesting to corking and labelling the bottle.
Architecture is another major reason to visit this region. You will love to explore the stories behind the sophisticated noble houses and discover some of the region’s hidden gems, like the 12th century Cistercian monasteries surrounded by splendid vineyards on the south bank of the river.
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