Discovering Porto & North of Portugal Fam Trip Pre-Tour BTL 24 th - 27 th of February 2018
Porto and Northern Portugal Tourism Board On behalf of the Porto and Northern Portugal Tourism Board 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 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
Porto and Northern Portugal Tourism Board
24 th of February, Saturday 10h00 Arrivals to Porto Meeting, greeting and assistance by Porto & Northern Portugal Tourism Staff. Check-in at Hotel (TO BE INFORMED) followed by lunch 16h00 Douro River Cruise DouroAzul is a byword for quality, competence and personality. And it perfectly blends the beauty and strength of the Douro Valley with the elegance of river cruises. Since the outset it has taken on the mission of providing the means by land, water and air capable of making the Douro Valley experience a trip of unrivalled beauty; DouroAzul is in ongoing evolution. 17h30 Visit to Palacio da Bolsa Stock exchange market Located in the centre of Porto, the Palácio da Bolsa is an authentic work of art, with undisputed prominence as a representative of the city, with the grand architectural design of the Hall of Nations and the famous Arab Room.
19h00 Visit to Pousada do Porto - Freixo Palace Hotel followed by dinner The Pousada do Porto, Freixo Palace Hotel, opened in October 2009 and is the first Portuguese Pousada in the city of Porto. The adaptation of the Pousada do Porto, inserted in a Palace which has been classified as a National Monument since 1910, was designed by architect David Sinclair and decorated by architect James Mitchell. The building is located on the banques of the Douro River, named after the famous Wine Region in Portugal, which dates back to Roman times. 25 th February, Sunday Breakfast at the hotel 09h30 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, Carmelitas Church, 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, Almas Church, Sta. Catarina street the best pedestrian and shopping area and take a glimpse of Majestic café, S. Bento train station officially inaugurated in 1916, the main atrium boast 20.000 tiles set in panels designed by Jorge Colaço, who represents the most and important historical moments and life of Porto, Sé Catedral
13h00 Lunch at 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. 15h00 Departure to Amarante All visitors to Amarante will most certainly be impressed by two imposing natural features: the great Serra do Marão rising above the city in a series of majestic landscapes and the river Tâmega, the longest tributary of the river Douro, whose journey begins in Galicia and which flows through the heart of Amarante, giving added colour to the picturesque houses standing on its banks.
16h30 Coffee Break at Casa da Calçada Relais & Chateaux followed by visit Located in Amarante, between Porto and The Douro valley, arises Casa da Calçada member of The Relais & Châteaux Association with majestic landscape and an entire idyllic scenery that inspires its discovery. Declared by the Portuguese Government as a building of high architectonical, historical and cultural relevance, maintaining its neo-classical elements in a romantic atmosphere, it invites travelling to the past, in a homelike and welcoming ambience 17h45 Departure to the Douro Valley Douro Valley Region World Heritage of UNESCO The oldest demarcated wine region where Porto wines and Douro wines are produced. Time to explore all its secrets and pleasures. 19h00 Quinta da Pacheca Wine House Hotel followed by dinner At a Quinta with 51 acres full of vineyards stretching down to the Douro, The Wine House Hotel is an intense and soulful hotel that surprises by its history, combined with an innovative and sophisticated style. This is a boutique hotel entirely devoted to gastronomic and wine tourism, where the welfare, comfort and family concept values are present, and the vine and wine take the main role. 22h00 Check-in at hotel (TO BE INFORMED)
26 th February, Monday Breakfast and check-out 11h00 Quinta do Seixo Get involved by one of the most impressive landscapes in the world and discover the best that the Quinta has to offer! An old Quinta with a modern winery, an amazing landscape, the perfect place to visit and taste the best wines of the region! Mountains and valleys, shaped by men over the centuries into step terraces, create a surprising contrast with the magnificence of the Douro River and the picturesque village of Pinhão. A breath-taking view all over the year, continuously changing in colours and light. 13h00 Restaurante DOC Douro is river, villages and suspended vineyards on imposing slopes. It s wine with designation of origin but also D.O.C, Taste of Certified Origins. It was based on this analogy that, in 2007, the DOC restaurant was born. Situated in Folgosa, Armamar, on the road between Régua and Pinhão, in what is one of the most beautiful scenic routes in the country, the restaurant occupies a building of contemporary lines with a picket based that extends along an elegant wooden deck overlooking the river. Designed by the architect Miguel Saraiva, the structure also includes a river dock with capacity for 15 boats, a wine cellar and a car park. It s a place of enormous beauty, blending the grandeur of the vineyard covered mountains and the serenity of the Douro river and the riverside villages, only awakened by the regular passage of the train. DOC serves as a window on this breathtaking scenery, making every meal a unique and special moment.
16h30 Departure to Braga Visit to the city centre of Braga Braga is situated in the heart of the fertile Minho province in north-western Portugal, surrounded by a gently rolling landscape of mountains and forests. One of Portugal's main religious centres, the city is renowned for its baroque churches, splendid 18th century houses and beautiful parks and gardens. The old city is solemn and antique, although industry and commerce have brought a modern way of life, complemented by local universities, contemporary restaurants and lively bars. Braga is a lively city, one of the oldest in the country, and is teeming with young people who study at its universities. The city is known as the "Portuguese Rome" for its concentration of religious heritage. 19h00 Check-in at Hotel Meliã Braga Hotel & SPA followed by visit and dinner Located a few minutes from the city centre, the Meliã Braga is a luxurious and contemporary hotel, perfect for discovering and exploring Braga, thanks to its excellent location, the quality of its services and its complete and comfortable facilities.
27 th February, Tuesday Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. 09h30 Departure to Porto 11h00 Visit to Graham s Port Wine Cellars The Graham's Lodge was built in 1890, in Vila Nova de Gaia on the Douro Estuary near the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the maritime climate is ideally suited to the balanced ageing of Graham's Ports. The sturdy granite walls of the lodge currently house over 3,500 casks of Port as well as a unique Vintage Port cellar. Opened in 1993 to the public, the Graham's Lodge is a functional, working building which today welcomes over 50 000 visitors every year. Nearly 20 years after its opening, the Lodge is one of Premium Port lover s favourite destinations where visitors can witness the everyday workings and discover and taste Graham's Ports. 13h30 Vinum Restaurant Surrounded by 3,200 oak barrels where the Porto fine wines of Graham's are aged, the main dining room at Vinum is situated in the heart of a magnificent 19th century wine cellar. The historic pine beams, supported by cast-iron pillars, all date back to 1890, the original date of construction. To one side are the huge granite walls of the cellar, painted white in order to give a warm and hospitable environment. On the other side, a simple glass wall allows incredible views of many thousands of seasoned oak casks containing some of the world s most valuable Port wines. Within the dining room, traditional pine tables, lit by low and welcoming lights, create a comfortable atmosphere in this stunning setting. This is truly a unique room in which to enjoy great food and wine.
15h30 Departure to Lisbon End of our program.