Discover Portugals delightful Douro with Viking River Cruises
Portugal is a warm and intensely beautiful land full of historical treasures, fascinating rock formations and vine-covered hills. Viking River Cruises capitalise on both of these elements by taking you on a journey along the magnificent Douro river to visit cities crammed with magnificent architecture, cultural icons and the highlights of the wine-growing regions. Lets have a look at the sort of destinationsyou can expect to explore during a one or two week cruise aboard one of Vikings luxury sailing vessels.
Lisbon
The capital city, Lisbon, contains what is considered to be one of the most beautiful monasteries in the world; the 16th century Belem -Jeronimos. You will be offered a tour and have discover the delights of city in your own time as well. The Tower of Belem is also from the 16th century and is used as a meeting point for many visitors. Its a powerful symbol from the Age of Discovery, when the Portuguese seafaring nation was considered a world authority in exploration.
There are some great art collections in Lisbon. Check out the ancient art at the Berardo Museum and the European collection at the Calouste Gulbenkian, but modern Lisbon also has a lot to offer. There are plenty of exciting shops and boutiques to explore and a pleasant hour can be spent in one of the alfresco cafes drinking milky coffee, known as galao and eating a pastel de nata; Portugals
very distinctive and deliciously light cream cakes. Walk off your cake with a stroll down the prom at the Parque das Nacoes on the waterfront. Theres also an aquarium here.
Porto
Coimbra in Porto is a city where 6 Portuguese kings have been born, so you get a sense how special the place is. There are some incredible buildings here dating back to between the 16th and 19th centuries, including the university, the baroque cathedral and many picturesque bridges. While youre here, youll also enjoy a trip to the Alpendurada monastery.
Regua
When you reach Regua, it soon becomes very obvious that youre in a dedicated wine-making region, particularly when you catch a glimpse of the Mateus Palace, which is the featured on Mateus wine bottles. Youll see port wine being made as well as the vineyards where the grapes are grown. You will, of course, have the opportunity to sample some of the wine grown here as well at the Quinta do Seixa.
If you like the sound of the destinations mentioned here, or youre curious to see how a traditional bakery works in the tiny village of Favaios, then please give the Aspen Travel team a call on 0161 755 3081 . We book Viking River Cruises in Portugal everyday and can advise you as to the high quality of the cuisine and facilities on board, as well as answer any questions you might have. We look forward to hearing from you.