Porto’s and Northern Portugal’s - Incentives

Porto and Northern Portugal

Incentives PORTO

DOURO

MINHO

TRĂ S-OS-MONTES

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

Ribeira, Porto

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Index 04

Porto Convention & Visitor’s Bureau on the web

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Porto and the North of Portugal: Maps

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20 DOURO

30 MINHO

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TRÁS -OSMONTES

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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Porto Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

On the web

www.portocvb.com

PORTO CONVENTION & VISITOR’S BUREAU ON THE WEB

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issuu issuu.com/arptportonorte

twitter twitter.com/portoconvention

pinterest pinterest.com/visitportonorth

linkedin linkedin.com/company/2576312

vimeo vimeo.com/visitportoandnorth

youtube youtube.com/visitportoandnorth

flickr

flickr.com/photos/visitportoandnorth/sets

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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Porto and the North of Portugal

Maps

Tourist map of Porto and Northern Portugal

VALENÇA DO MINHO

Minho River

CORNO DO BICO PROTECTED LANDSCAPE

A28

LAGOAS DE BERTIANDOS E S. PEDRO D'ARCOS

PENEDA GERÊS NATIONAL PARK

A27

Lima River

CHAVES

VIANA DO CASTELO

IP4

A3

Tâmega River

Câvado River

LITORAL DE ESPOSENDE PROTECTED LANDSCAPE

MIRANDA DO DOURO

A7

A7

ALBUFEIRA DO AZIBO PROTECTED LANDSCAPE INTERNATIONAL NATURAL DOURO PARK

ALVÃO NATURAL PARK

A3

Tua River

MOUGADOURO

IP2

VILA REAL

IP4

TUA

A24

A4

PONTE DE LIMA

PESO DA RÉGUA

PORTO

DOURO VALLEY VILA NOVA DE GAIA

A1

MIRANDELA

IP4

MONDIM DE BASTO

AMARANTE

Leixões International Cruises Terminal

MACEDO DE CAVALEIROS

GUIMARÃES

A11

A28

VIDAGO

A24

BRAGA

N206

BRAGANÇA

MONTESINHO NATURAL PARK

PONTE DE LIMA

Douro River Cruises

VILA NOVA DE FOZ CÔA

INTERNATIONAL NATURAL DOURO PARK

Côa River

PONTE DE LIMA

LAMEGO

Douro River

CÔA VALLEY ROCK ART

AROUCA GEOPARK

Unesco World Heritage

Tourist Information

Cruises

Natural Park and Protected Landscape

Autoroutes A1, A3, A4, A7, A11, A24, A28 Routes Principales IP2, IP4, N206

Beaches 62 With Blue Flag In 2011

National Park

Airport and Airfield

Portuguese Way to Santiagon de Compostela

PORTO AND THE NORTH OF PORTUGAL: MAPS

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Airlines Route Map

DUBLIN

MANCHESTER HAMBURG

LIVERPOOL

BREMEN

BIRMINGHAM

BRISTOL

AMSTERDAM

BERLIN

DORTMUND

LONDON

DÜSSELDORF EINDHOVEN MAASTRICHT

LILLE

BRUSSELS FRANKFURT LUXEMBOURG

BREST

MONTREAL

BRIVÉ

NUREMBERG KARLSRUHE

PARIS

RENNES

STRASBOURG

TOURS

NANTES

DOLE LA ROCHELLE

TORONTO BORDEAUX

CLERMONTFERRAND

LIMOGES

BASEL ZÜRICH

GENÈVE LYON ST. ÉTIENNE

MUNICH

MILAN

NEW YORK BOLOGNE

TOULOUSE CARCASSONE MARSEILLE

PORTO

ISTANBUL BARCELONA MADRID

TERCEIRA LISBON

VALÈNCIA

PONTA DELGADA

CARACAS

PALMA MALLORCA

FARO

FUNCHAL

SÃO PAULO RIO DE JANEIRO

PORTO SANTO

CASABLANCA

MARRAKESH TENERIFE

PISA

LAS PALMAS

LUANDA

ROME

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

Peneda-Gerês National Park

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Join us on this trip and get a taste of Porto’s and Northern Portugal’s unique hospitality and charm.

We will take you to the most beautiful spots at down-town Porto where traditional shops and exclusive labels cohabit next door.

You will have a glance at World Heritage monuments, masterpieces of contemporary architecture, one of Europe’s most beautiful riverside and the ocean unforgettable coastline.

Your meals will be served in a traditional seafood restaurant or taverna, you will dine like a nobleman at a luxurious gala table and you will enjoy a tasty picnic in

the middle of Nature.

Maybe you will have the chance to drink the wine which you just finished bottling yourself but in any case you will taste some of the finest Port wines, red and white, and the refreshing ‘Vinho Verde’.

You will travel by coach, old tram, steamtrain, or riverboat, a great choice of outdoor activities and the most creative and unique teambuilding.

After a day filled with such stimulating sensations and experiences, you will rest in a modern high category hotel, an ancient monastery, a castle, noble manor house or a rustic “Quinta”.

So let the journey begin...

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

CC BY-NC-SA – Município do Porto

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PORTO

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Ponte LuĂ­s I, Porto

P

orto, one of Europe’s oldest cities, is an event in itself!

Breathtaking monuments and masterpieces of contemporary architecture, a surprisingly traditional yet highly cosmopolitan lifestyle, World Heritage sites and stunning views, glamorous settings and charming amenities, Porto is like its wine.

Unique. Exquisite. Authentic.

Release your senses and enjoy every bit of it!

Learn More

http://visitportoandnorth.travel/ Porto-and-the-North/Visit/Porto

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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Creative River Cruises

Be a sailor on a Rabelo boat for one day! Learn how to make sailor’s knots, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch, a cocktail party while watching the sunset or a romantic candle light dinner accompanied by a guitar player while cruising up the Douro River.

Urban essentials Discover the city by riding a bicycle, flying over it by helicopter, riding in an authentic old-timer, in a motorcyle sidecar or on a historic tram! Get ready for lots of surprises, including meeting angry passengers who want to take your seat in the tram‌We promise you lots of action, excitement and fun!

PORTO

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RUI PAULA CC BY-NC-ND - Restaurante DOP

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Hidden talents

Discover your skills as a Master of Portuguese cuisine, paint your own tile, or become a photographer by recording your experiences with a digital camera and then producing your own DVD. Your visit to Porto will surely be a stay to remember. Share it with your friends and family!

DOP Restaurant, Porto

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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Shop ‘til you drop Handicraft articles in little shops and the latest fashions in designer boutiques. Whatever you are looking for, you will find it in Porto at unbeatable prices! Best buys are leather goods, especially shoes and purses, home textiles, jewellery, crystal and porcelain, wine and olive oil. Shop ‘til you drop!

The Soul of Porto Get in touch with the soul of Porto and get ready for an exciting photo rally!

Start at the Clérigos Tower, past the famous Lello bookshop, through the picturesque Bolhão open air market, refresh body and mind at the Majestic Café, visit the baroque S. João Theatre, marvel at the azulejos in the São Bento train station and discover the splendid Bolsa Palace

PORTO

CC BY-NC-ND - Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR

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http://goo.gl/DRNlX

Port Wine Cellars A simple wine tasting, the unique ritual of opening a bottle of Vintage Port with fire, becoming a member of a wine brotherhood, a wine & cheese party, an elegant wine tasting dinner or a treasure hunt. The Port Wine cellars doors are open for you, just choose your activity!

Cálem Port Wine Cellars Vila Nova de Gaia

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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You’ll find it here We offer you a selected variety of special gifts and personalized giveaways: the official Port Wine glass, tiles painted by the renowned artist Júlio Resende, precious silver and gold jewellery and special editions of books and old prints are only some of the many items you can choose from.

PORTO

Green Experience You will be surprised at how green the city is!

How about a mini-marathon, a choice of traditional games in the City Park or some gardening in the Serralves Foundation grounds?

Perhaps you would rather delight in a lovely picnic lunch in the green!

Cool and classic after dark Enjoy the sunset and a drink at a beach bar and begin the evening in a trendy coffee house while listening to jazz. Gamble at one of the nearby casinos or go to a disco and dance until dawn. Porto offers you a truly cosmopolitan nightlife and a great variety of shows and entertainment.

Find the right atmosphere for you. excitement and fun!

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PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND - Fundação Casa da Música

Timeless venues Relive history in the Arab room at the Bolsa Palace or at a concert iin the S. Bento da Vitória Monastery.

Catch up with time at the Museum of Contemporary Art designed by the renowned architect Siza Vieira, or at Porto’s most recent auditorium, the Casa da Música, one of Rem Koolhas’ masterpieces. In any of these buildings your gala dinner will be a success!

http://goo.gl/m1zrF

PORTO

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Casa da MĂşsica, Porto

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND Turismo do Douro, Rui Pires

INCENTIVES

http://goo.gl/Dou9Pl

DOURO

Douro Valley

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he Douro River, after which this region was named, flows eastward from Porto as far as the Spanish frontier. Explore the river by boat or by train and delight in all that Nature offers you.

Depending on the time of year, the hills may be dotted with almond or cherry trees in flower or they may exhibit a hive of activity as the grape harvest sends pickers up and down the terraced vineyards that rise up the hills along both banks of the river.

Enjoy the vistas as you relax on the deck of the boat and bask in the summer sunshine.

By the time that you arrive in the heart of the Douro river valley, you will be in the right mood to immerse yourself in the universe of wine and to explore all its secrets and pleasures‌

Learn More

http://visitportoandnorth.travel/ Porto-and-the-North/Visit/Douro

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PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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Quintas & Vineyards Visit some of the most celebrated wine estates, or quintas, in the Douro.

Share the table with your hosts, listen as they passionately tell you about the history of their family and their long Port winemaking tradition. You will be amazed at the number of different activities and events that we can organize for you.

The Harvest Activities In the Douro, vintage is the name we give to the grape harvest that takes place in late summer or early fall. Join in the winemaking activities at a quinta: pick the grapes and crush them with your bare feet to the tune and rhythm of folk songs. After a hard day’s work, enjoy a homemade dish of “massa à lavrador” and a glass of Douro or regional sparkling white wine.

DOURO

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CC BY-NC-ND - Douro Azul

http://goo.gl/0iTLO

Douro River Cruises, Douro

All aboard!

How about a happy picnic with entertainment on board a riverboat as you slowly cruise up the Douro River? No matter whether you choose a pantomime, accordion player or a magician, we guarantee lots of fun and laughter! Afterwards, enjoy a refreshing swim in the river, thrill to the speed of a water bike or stop at a quinta to taste some wine.

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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When the going gets though There is nothing better than a 4x4 trip to the Douro Valley’s most beautiful sites! At each checkpoint you will be rewarded with extraordinary views and also with typical local snacks such as roast chestnuts or succulent cherries. The final gathering point is a quinta where a special barbecue lunch awaits you!

Battles & Bottles Choose one or more of the following games and activities: Hunt the barrel, basket or bottle of vintage; fill your own bottle of wine, seal it and mark it with your own personal label that you will have created yourself; or test your palate and oenological skills at a blind tasting.

PORTO

CC BY-NC-ND - Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR

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A Journey by Train Put on a straw hat and wrap a scarf around your neck! It’s time to join a traditional folk band on the historical steam train and take a ride back in time right into the heart of the Douro Valley.

Enjoy a tasty lunch or a very special cocktail party, watch the sunset over the river and get in the mood for elegant food and wine tasting dinner.

Historical Train in the Douro Valley

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND - Entidade Regional de Turismo do Douro

http://goo.gl/hpUkpG

Best kept Dining Secrets Now that you have almost become a wine and food expert, you will be able to even better appreciate your gourmet dinner. Each course is accompanied by a different, carefully chosen wine and commented on by a chef or oenologist. Have you ever tried different Port Wines with different kinds of chocolate? A truly divine experience!

Port Wine

DOURO

Be an Expert Release your senses and let yourself be initiated in the fine art of wine and – olive oil! – tasting! These unique workshops are supervised by professionals and your participation will be rewarded with a certificate of expertise. For those who are more gastronomically inclined, we suggest learning the fine art of making regional orange and quince jam. Taste and discover!

Best Buys Don’t miss the chance of buying a few bottles of Port, red, white and sparkling wine directly from the producer! Several quintas have their own little gift shops where you will also find some excellent regional olive oil, almonds, jam, honey and crafts. Many of these items can be personalized.

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PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR

The Great Pretender Consider a very different setting for your evening program: A romantic Shakespearean Midsummer Night dinner, the Golden 20s with Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, Opera-singing waiters at your dinner table, acrobats or magicians. Let your imagination loose! How about fireworks over the river at the end of the evening?

http://goo.gl/BYKFh0

DOURO

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Gaia - Cais da Ribeira, Porto

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

CC BY-NC-ND - TURIHAB

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MINHO

A

distinctive coastline with countless unspoiled beaches, evergreen mountains, great history, imposing manor houses and patrician estates, well preserved monuments and masterpieces of contemporary architecture, joyful country festivals, a variety of colorful handicrafts and the unique Vinho Verde, Portugal’s northwest province has it all. All the major cities in this beautiful region, proud guardians of the nation’s origins, are less than an hour’s drive from Porto.

Santa Luzia Hill Viana do Castelo

Learn More

http://visitportoandnorth.travel/ Porto-and-the-North/Visit/Minho

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PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND - Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR

Wine Estate

Manor Houses and Vinho Verde Today you’ll have lunch at a superb stately home surrounded by vineyards. Enjoy a homemade meal and a glass of Vinho Verde, whilst listening to your hosts’ fascinating family story.

Afterwards, get ready for some wine games!

http://goo.gl/8Fv2Te

MINHO

Deep Sea Fishing Join the fishermen in their boats and challenge the open sea!

Learn from the professionals how to fix the nets, prepare and bait the hooks and at the end of the day, how to prepare a traditional stew with the fish you yourself caught! Don´t miss the chance to take photos, this will be an unforgettable day!

Wildlife Put on some strong shoes or walking boats and come on hiking in the mountains! In the well-preserved ecosystem of the PenedaGerĂŞs National Park, explore the unique flora and fauna, visit local ancestral villages, see some amazing Megalithic, Celtic and Roman ruins and enjoy the regional roast lamb.

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PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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Be an Artist Learn how to dance popular folk dances, the art of linen working and making beautiful pieces of embroidery or discover your artistic talents at a potter’s studio. Choose your way of getting in touch with the most authentic popular culture and traditions of Northern Portugal!

Sun, Sea, Sand... and games Protect your skin with a good sun screen and get ready for teambuilding activities on the beach: a volleyball tournament, a sack race, tug-of-war, archery or a variety of traditional games are at your disposal. Finish the day relaxing at a stylish seafron restaurant while enjoying a delicious fresh fish dinner.

MINHO

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Hit a Hole-In-One Can you resist the relaxed atmosphere of a golf day in an oceanfront golf course? Challenge those who want to improve their handicap for a tournament at one of the professional golf courses in Northern Portugal: Estela (18 holes), Amarante (18 holes), Ponte de Lima (18 holes) and Oporto Golf Club (18 holes).

Golf Course, Minho

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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Folklore & Traditions Join the party when the whole city goes out on the streets to celebrate the local religious or pagan festivals. Get ready for colorful traditional dressing and rich jewelry, authentic food and drink, folk music and dancing, fairs and open air markets.

Must-have Crafts All linen products, excellent pieces of fine embroidery, traditional pottery, precious gold jewelry and some bottles of Vinho Verde directly from the producers are just a few of the many ideal gifts we offer you. Don’t miss the chance!

MINHO

CC BY-NC-ND - Entidade Regional de Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal

Bom Jesus Church, Braga

Architecture & Events Hunt for a treasure in the Guimar達es Castle where Portugal was first declared a nation or organize your own private game in the new soccer stadium in Braga, designed by the renowned Architect Souto Moura, and wrap it all up with an awards ceremony in the ancient cloisters of a charming Pousada.

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http://goo.gl/aQonz

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND - Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR

Gypsies and Kings Remember the brave Portuguese navigators and spice your event with native flavors from the former Portuguese colonies. Have fun at an authentic gipsy party with all the musicians, the costumes and the fortune teller or become a princess or a knight in a medieval castle and enjoy an ancient banquet where forks and knives are unavailable.

http://goo.gl/cAOBc

MINHO

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Duques de Braganรงa Palace, Guimarรฃes, Minho

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND - Associação Montesinho Vivo

Montesinho Natural Park, Trás-os-Montes

INCENTIVES

http://goo.gl/tLqoT

TRĂ S-OS-MONTES

B

eyond-the-mountains could not be a more appropriate name for this province in the northern hinterland of Portugal. Rugged mountains, an unspoiled countryside, untouched historical villages, the healing and purifying virtues of thermal springs, traditional cuisine and the genuine hospitality of a people proud of their roots and traditions, all are hallmarks of a region that has been cherished and has remained relatively unchanged generation after generation. Get ready for the upcoming adventures!

Learn More

http://visitportoandnorth.travel/ Porto-and-the-North/Visit/Tras-os-Montes

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PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND - Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR

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Casa de Mateus Foundation, Vila Real

Historic Sites

Bond with nature and explore local popular culture by strolling around the most remote country villages where roots and traditions have remained almost unchanged throughout the ages, visit authentic prehistoric and Roman sites and dare to relive the past by following the Route of the Castles.

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Thermal Springs & Style Spas After so much activity, you must not miss the chance of taking a beauty break in one of the local Spas! Doze while you relax in the whirlpool or steam bath and are pampered with a special antistress or soothing beauty treatment. We promise you 100% natural spring water, professional care and wellness.

Rough and Tough Here, where the mountains are high and the rivers run wild, you will find the ideal setting for ballooning, canoeing, rafting, climbing, mountainbiking, paintball or any other adventurous sports or ‘high-energy’ teambuilding activity you like.

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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4x4 Rally

Not only for “tough guys”, but also for “smart girls”!

Split up into small teams and get on the road and drive tough jeeps. Follow the treck in your instruction book; pass each checkpoint and speed up for the fastest time. Are you hungry yet? A tasty country style picnic awaits you at a beautiful gathering point in the midst of the countryside.

Grandma’s Secrets Organize traditional arts and crafts workshops where participants can learn how to make the typical rye and corn breads and then taste them with some homemade smoked ham and sausages and some fresh local goat or sheep cheese that they themselves have made, or learn how to spin the wool and weave the typical blankets of this region.

TRÁS-OS-MONTES

CC BY-NC-ND - Município de Freixo de Espada à Cinta

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ECOsensations Star gazing and bird watching, playing traditional Portuguese games, picking wild mushrooms or learning from a shepherd how to milk and shear his flock. You would be surprised at how many ways there are of exploring the regions and discovering the traditions of the countryside.

Freixo de Espada à Cinta Landscape, Trás-os-Montes

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND - Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR

A feast for the Palate

The gastronomy of this region is characterized by the quality of its products and by the ease with which they are prepared.

Some of the most typical specialties of the region include sausages, steaks of Mirandês beef, Montesinho roast kid, bean hot pots and fresh trout prepared in a variety of ways. To preserve the memory of traditional cuisine, the dishes may be cooked in the village oven.

Traditional Smoked Sausages - Vinhais

http://goo.gl/FmF0Lh

TRĂ S-OS-MONTES

Magical Mystery Tour

This is a kingdom of legends, mysteries and profane, magic and religious traditions whose origin is lost in the sands of time. Enjoy the euphoria of the Caretos, enigmatic figures garbed in colourful clothing and hidden behind tin masks; dance to the rhythm of the Pauliteiros de Miranda Morris dancers; or celebrate a Witches Sabbath every Friday the 13th at Montalegre Castle.

Bewitched Have you ever had dinner with a witch or a wizard? In the rustic and cozy atmosphere of a rural taverna, enjoy a typical meal whilst the Druid mixes a special magic potion according to ancient rituals. Have your fortune read in the rising smoke and then sip the mysterious cocktail.

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PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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CC BY-NC-ND - Vidago Palace Hotel

Creative Accommodation There are numerous types of accommodation to suit every taste and budget. These range from bijou hotels, luxury spas, pousadas, castles and forts, to shepherd’s huts or tents in the mountains, even small villages where every building is totally dedicated to country tourism.

Whichever you choose, you will be certain of a warm welcome.

Dare to be different.

http://goo.gl/5rNW0y

TRร S-OS-MONTES

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Vidago Palace Hotel, Trรกs-os-Montes

PORTO AND NORTHERN PORTUGAL

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Notes

INCENTIVES

CC BY-NC-SA – Município do Porto

www.portocvb.com Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR. Porto Convention & Visitors Bureau Av. Inferior à Ponte D. Luís I, 53 - 1º 4050-074 Porto - Portugal Tel: +351 223 326 751 | Fax: +351 223 326 752

http://goo.gl/G6tzPL