Page 225 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

DOURO AND TRÁS- Best for
Getting off the beaten track
PAGE 244 OS-MONTES Home to
Bragança’s Citadel,
On its way to the Atlantic, the Douro or “Golden River”
wends its scenic path through deep-cleft gorges,
Experience
terraced with vineyards and home to prosperous quintas Casa de Mateus
(wine estates) all dedicated to producing wine and port. A train ride on the scenic Linha
To the east, untrammelled Trás-os-Montes remains a do Douro from Porto to Pinhão
land of quiet stone villages amid fields of rye and
moorland. Full of historic associations, its isolated
capital Bragança lies on the edge of the wild Parque
Natural de Montesinho, a great choice for hikers.

MINHO
PAGE 266 The Minho occupies the northwest corner
of Portugal and is named after the river
that marks its northern boundary with
Spain. Outside the cities, the Minho’s
fertile farms have been handed down
within families for centuries. So, too, have
the traditions of carnivals and street
markets, creating an authentic slice of
Portuguese culture. Ox-drawn carts
still carry the area’s distinctive vinhos
verdes or “green wines” to market
in Barcelos. Walkers and wildlife
enthusiasts should not miss the craggy
peaks and untamed river valleys of
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês.
Best for
Traditional life and wild walks
Home to
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês, Viana do
Castelo, Braga, Bom Jesus do Monte
Experience
The traditional market at Barcelos, where local
produce and handicrafts sit side by side

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