DESTINATIONGOLF . TRAVEL
PORTO E NORTE
The churches and monasteries , the museums and castles , the gardens and the rich architecture are part of an unforgettable itinerary . It is also impossible not to enjoy the numerous natural parks , the generous rivers , the sea and the mountain which frame all this region .
Stop to take a breath , it is always possible to appreciate the rich and abundant gastronomy , the Douro wine , the “ Vinho Verde ” and the famous Port Wine .
There are thousand charms and corners that are worth discovering in Porto , capital of the North . Porto is one of the oldest cities of the country , and , as such , its path is sinuous and picturesque .
It is a unique experience to stroll through its streets and feel the pulse of the city .
Take the tram to the mouth of the river Douro and get to know the excellent beaches and the outdoor cafés , visit admiring churches and monuments and encounter the non-conformist modernism of the new contemporary buildings of architects like Siza Vieira , Souto Moura or Rem Koolhaas .
The north of Portugal is all this and it is also a region with four UNESCO qualifications . The Historical Centre of Porto , the Historical Centre of Guimarães , the Douro Valley and the Côa Valley are World Heritage . It would be hard to qualify a region like the North of Portugal , but if we wanted to do it , we would have to inspire ourselves in their people , in their hospitality , in the joy of their festivities and in their way of living so strongly marked by the pleasant way of hosting .
It was , in 1756 , the first demarcated and regulated wine region in the world . The wild slopes of the valley transformed themselves , through the work of generations , in terraces to plant the vines that produce the famous Port , excellent DOC Douro wine , sparkling wine and Muscat .
This impressive landscape was considered World Heritage by the UNESCO in 2001 , as a living evolving cultural landscape – the Douro Valley . In the Valley of the river Douro and its tributaries , the harmonious interaction between Man and Nature coexists with another , possibly more natural or derelict – the one of the National Parks of Douro International , of Alvão or yet even further , the Geopark of Arouca .
The River Douro flows from the Spanish border to the east of Porto and , depending on the time of the year , its slopes may be decorated with Almond trees and Cherry blossom or with the harvest labor . Try the traditional recipes accompanied by the highly respected Wines , in quintas or in the excellent local restaurants .
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