Starting from Pinhao, a humble little town who’s superb setting makes it the nerve centre for visitors to the upper Douro region, this drive (or ride) takes you along the most beautiful stretch of the Douro valley – breath-taking vertiginous scenery, steep terraced vineyards and whitewashed Quintas. In 2015 Avis voted this the World’s Best Drive and you’ll soon see why!
At Peso de Regua don’t miss the Museu do Douro for some insight into the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. Then head south to the handsome, university town of Lamego with its astonishingly dramatic baroque stairway up to the C18th church of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios (nobody does stairs quite like the Portuguese!
Casa de Mateus – perhaps you recognise the photo above from romantic dinners in the seventies? Or candle lamp maybe? The stunning Casa de Mateus, made famous in part due to its presence on rosé wine bottles is a prime example baroque 18th century Portuguese architecture and well worth a visit.
If you still have the time pay a visit to the lovely villages of Sabrosa and Provesende before heading back to Pinhao
You can stay near Pinhao on many of our Portuguese tours, for example our Douro Valley Tour or our Porto, Douro and Las Beiras tour
Download a printable pdf of the Douro Valley Highlights Tour
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