This is the region where Portugal was born. Here you will find a mix of history and culture that will make you fall in love with this little corner. With breathtaking landscapes throughout this region there will be no shortage of places to inspire and make you live a unique and singular experience. In addition, there is the fantastic gastronomy and wine that will give an even more special flavor to your visit. You can also count on the kindness and welcome of the Portuguese people who will make you feel as if you were at your own home. Numerous traditions and little delights along the way make northern Portugal a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. Come live this adventure of a lifetime and get to know the north of Portugal
The Douro Valley is also called the “enchanted valley” such is the beauty and enchantment of its landscapes.
Wine is the essence of this territory: the Demarcated Douro Region, which is the oldest in the world. The wine-growing landscape, either to the north or to the south of the river, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its “live and evolutionary cultural landscape”, which bears witness to the symbiotic relationship between man and nature.
This is a strongly tourism-oriented region. Local communities know how to share knowledge and experiences which can only be lived in the Douro. The region is filled with fantastic farms, where the famous Port wine is produced, many of which can be visited while others associate viticultural production with tourist activities.
The Douro is also the navigability of the river which, in some stretches, follows the railway line until Porto.
Besides wines, the region is known for its excellent gastronomy, diversified and high-quality accommodation, and nature connection activities which enable visitors to “dive” with all their senses into a territory waiting to be explored and enjoyed.
The Alvão Natural Park is essentially a granitic zone with some patches of schist as well as countless rocky outcrops. Of the water lines, which are very incised, it is worth mentioning the Olo River associated with the famous waterfall of Fisgas do Ermelo, a natural work of art that is simply fantastic.
In the Alvão mountain range and, besides rocky patches, oak tree patches and mixed leafy forests can be observed.
The white birch is the most common tree that can be found by the water lines in whose valleys one can find verdant swamps which contrast with the aridity found at higher elevations.
A territory located in the Alto Trás-os-Montes, noticeably characterized by the rural architecture of its settlements, of which some of the finest examples are the villages of Lamas de Olo, Ermelo and Barreiro.
“The destination of LOVE!
Whoever lives here loves the Tua, whoever comes here falls in love as well”.
The Natural Regional Park of Vale do Tua (PNRVT), which comprises the municipalities of Alijó, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Murça, Mirandela and Vila Flor, is proof that love is the main defining characteristic of this territory and, essentially, of the people who live here. It is the love for the land, for the origins, history and traditions, the built and natural heritage, it is the love for local products, a feeling that manifests itself in every interaction with this park.
The Tua Valley is endowed with dazzling landscapes, a rich heritage, gastronomy and wines that can please the most demanding palates, hiking trails to explore and viewpoints from which visitors can let their gaze wander. It has museums and interpretive centers that tell you stories, inviting you to explore this territory which is essentially inhabited by affable and hospitable people, always willing to share this great LOVE for the Tua.
The Terras de Cavaleiros Geopark sparks the interest of world-class geologists since it is a territory known for its UNESCO geopark networks, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in millions of years in the history of Earth.
Besides the geological heritage, it is worth mentioning the local biodiversity and the historical cultural heritage of which the Caretos de Podence stand out, being listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In addition to the dazzling preserved landscapes, one cannot but acknowledge the identity of this people who preserves the secret of working the land to harvest the products which form the basis of its rich gastronomy.