Page 457 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

the vines, with the river below,
later becomes the cobbled
Rua da Calçada, passing
socalcos (stone-walled terraced
vineyards).

TRIP HIGHLIGHT
MICHAEL MELFORD / GETTY IMAGES ©
8 Casal de Loivos
It’s a tough call, but
Casal de Loivos has
hands down one of the
most staggeringly beauti-
ful views in the region.
From the miradouro
(viewpoint), the uplifting
vista reduces the Douro
to postcard format, tak-
ing in the full sweep of PORTUGAL 32 DOuRO VALLEY VINEYARD TRAILS
its stone-walled terraced
vineyards, stitched into
the hillsides and fringing
the sweeping contours of
the valley, and the river
scything through them.
To maximise on these
dreamy views, stay the
night at Casa de Casal
de Loivros (%254 732 149;
www.casadecasaldeloivos.com;
s/d €90/110; is). The
elegant house has been in
this winemaking family
for nearly 350 years. The
halls are enlivened by
museum-level displays of
folkloric dresses, and the
perch – high above the
Alto Douro – is spec-
tacular. Swim laps in the
pool while peering down
across the vines spread-
ing in all directions.
The Drive » Backtrack on the
N323, then pick up the N222
south of the river for the 64km
drive southeast to Vila Nova de
Foz Côa. The winding road takes
you through some picture-book
scenery, with whitewashed
hamlets and quintas
punctuating vines, orchards and
olive groves.
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