Discovering Porto & Northern of Portugal

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1 Discovering Porto & Northern of Portugal Post Tour BTL 27 th February to 01 st March 2015

2 Porto and Northern Portugal Tourism Board On behalf of the Porto and Northern Portugal Tourism Board - Porto Convention Bureau and its Members, we are pleased to invite you to discover Porto and the North The Essence of Portugal! Porto and the North of Portugal has 4 World Heritage Sites by Unesco: the Historical City of Porto, the Historical City of Guimarães, the Foz Côa Art Valley and the Douro Valley. There are a thousand years of History to recreate in the ancient cities, the busy streets, the walls of the heritage and the traditions of the people. The commerce in the streets and galleries tremble with the vintage shops, traditional markets, gourmet specialities and urban handicraft. The gastronomy from the north is rich, healthy and exclusive and the wines of the region are unique, aromatic and surprising. We have sun, sea and river, culture and entertainment. We have festivities, life, modernity and agitation. There is an immensity of things to do, places to see, people to meet and emotions to feel. We receive with the nature of those who live their life with intensity! This program includes: Accommodation in Porto; All meals and guided visits mentioned in the program; Coach service and English speaking guide according to the program This program excludes: Personal extras and expenses; All the services not mentioned in this program. Program Subject to Minor Changes

3 Porto and Northern Portugal Tourism Board

4 27 th February, Friday 11h00 Arrival to Porto. Meeting, greeting and assistance by Porto & Northern Portugal Tourism Staff Guided visit and check-in 4 / 5 Star Hotel 12h30 Departure to D. Tonho Restaurant 13h00 Lunch at D. Tonho Restaurant A traditional restaurant with a fantastic view, in the heart of the Ribeira Riverside 15h00 Departure to Downtown tour Downtown tour Strolling around the old and narrow streets, passing the most interesting land marks of the city including the Clérigos Tower the ex-libris of the city, the exquisite Book Shop LELLO - considered UNESCO World Patrimony and one of the third most beautiful bookshops in the World, the old grocery shops and boutiques, the colourful squares, etc. The new quarters of Cândido dos Reis (street) and Galeria de Paris (street), where one can find and enjoy the best of night life in Porto downtown with its trendy and design cafés, book shops, shops, Aliados avenue, Café Guarany, Bolhão market, Sta. Catarina street the best pedestrian and shopping area and take a glimpse of Majestic café, S. Bento train station.

5 19h00 Departure to Taylor s Port Wine Cellars 19h30 Guided visit at Taylor s Port Wine Cellars followed by dinner at Baraão Fladgate restaurant For many, Taylor s is the archetypal Port house and its wines the quintessential Ports. Established over three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor s is one of the oldest of the founding Port houses. It is dedicated entirely to the production of Port wine and in particular to its finest styles. 28 th February, Saturday Breakfast at Hotel 09h00 Departure to Guimarães Recently declared World Heritage by UNESCO, Guimarães adds this award to another title it displays by right, the cradle of the nation as a proud and dominating castle was born in the twelfth century, the first king of Portugal D. Afonso Henriques. The distinguished historical center is extremely well preserved and the narrow streets of the Medieval Town, with old houses embellished by ornate balconies and statuary, leading to the beautiful Largo da Oliveira, one of the centers of interest. Guimarães was proudly the European Capital of Culture of 2012.

6 09h45 Sightseeing Tour at Guimarães This Unique Tour Includes the Castle, Dukes of Bragança Palace and the Medieval Town. 11h00 Departure to Braga Braga is the oldest town in Portugal and one of the oldest Christian cities in the world. Founded in the Roman times under the name of Bracara Augusta, the city has more than 2000 years of history. The historic center has a valuable architectural and archaeological heritage and therefore, Braga is a city of great importance and interest, culture and tradition. 11h30 Guided visit at Bom Jesus "Bom Jesus", "Sameiro", are outstanding places that should be included in any tour of Braga. Due to their beauty and religious value, they make up a triangle, based on religious interest and surrounded by unspoiled green areas.

7 12h30 Guided visit at Hotel Meliã Braga followed by lunch The Meliã Braga Hotel & Spa, recently inaugurated, is a modern and sophisticated upper-class Hotel serving the city of Braga an the whole region. Is located near the University of Braga, next to the Iberian Center of Nanotechonology and 5 minutes from the city center and shopping centers. 14h30 Departure to Ponte de Lima In the centre of a rich farming region, where the famous vinho verde is produced. the greatest number of manor houses and palaces are to be found, many of them offering accommodation to tourists under the system of Turismo de Habitação.

8 15h00 Visit the city center 15h30 Guided visit at Quinta do Ameal Quinta do Ameal boasts a rich environmental heritage and, in addition to its vines, it is notable for its stunning woodland, which contains oak-trees, walnut-trees and centuries-old stone pines, forming an area of outstanding natural beauty next to the banks of the river Lima. It is considered to be property with exceptional agricultural and ecological potential, as well as an area of historical significance. Today, it is recognised as one of the producers of Portuguese Loureiro varietal wines that is most involved in and responsible for the development of this grape variety. 16h30 Departure to Viana do Castelo Viana do Castelo is the most northern North Atlantic City in Portugal. Visitors can savour the remarkable quality of life enjoyed by its inhabitants in safety and tranquillity, as well as the richness of its natural, monumental and historic heritage, and its excellent cultural, sporting and social facilities. 17h00 Visit the city center

9 17h30 Guided visit at Fábrica do Chocolate Hotel A century old building, where chocolate was once produced and from where a sweet aroma used to emerge all over the city, is today a newly restored building that keeps its history and memories alive, but with a new purpose. 18h30 Departure to Porto 20h30 Dinner at traditional restaurant Os Lusíadas Specialized in fish and seafood, the restaurant Os Lusíadas provides excellent quality food thanks to its privileged location in Matosinhos, next to one of the major national fishing ports. Here, you will be able to enjoy a delicious and tasty meal with fresh ingredients coming from the Ocean almost straight into your plate. The name Os Lusíadas is inspired by the homonymous masterpiece of Luís de Camões, Portugal s great national poet; this epic poem from the 16th century describes Vasco da Gama s discovery of the sea route to India. 01 st March, Sunday Breakfast at Hotel and check-out Departure transfer to Porto International Airport and assistance on Boarding formalities.