Sometimes its good to get away for a while from the beautiful churches,  bridges, streets and vineyards.   This park isn’t too far off the beaten track and will definitely clear the head.   There are plenty of hiking trails but its rugged terrain is also lovely just for a drive.   There are a few small villages […]

If prehistory is your thing then you will want to visit the Coa Valley.   In the early 1990’s,  engravings were discovered when the area was being surveyed for a dam.   Thanks to national and international pressure,  plans for the dam were shelved and archaeologists moved in.   To date,  thousands of engravings have been found at […]

Here’s another gorgeous town that is perfect for a short visit. Most people come for stairway but there’s also a nice old centre and impressive cathedral. Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios The church is lovely but the approaching staircase is the real star of the show. With 686 steps, its a bit of a […]

Yes – this IS the place on the wine bottle.   No – its NOT where they produce, or ever produced,  the famous rosé wine.   In the 1940’s,   the company developing this new wine needed a marketing ploy and approached the owners of the Mateus estate for the name and image.   The story goes that they […]

You could spend a lovely day here,  wandering along by the river and through the old village but for most (including tour buses because its on the day tour circuit)  its all about the bridge,  the church and then coffee or lunch before moving on.   Ponte de Sao Goncalo The bridge IS impressive.   Its […]