| Douro & North Portugal hotels |
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| Charming and romantic Douro hotels, rural retreats, boutique hotels, luxury hotels, romantic getaways, small hotels, bed & breakfasts in northern Portugal. |
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| Choose from our romantic and charming Douro hotels and accommodation by clicking on the map or list on the right. These will highlight a wide selection of Minho hotels, including romantic Braga hotels, quintas, bed & breakfasts, Guimaraes hotels amongst others. Whatever your taste, we’ll help you find that perfect getaway. |
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| Click on hotel icons on map or see all Douro & North Portugal hotels |
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| All hotels have been personally visited by member of our management. ask our advice |
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Douro & North Portugal |
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Northern Portugal takes in some of Portugals oldest and wildest regions - the Douro, famous for its Port wines, Minho and Trás os Montes. The Minho, in fact, lays claim to being the oldest region in Portugal, and one of its most beautiful, blessed as it is with with river valleys, green hills, trailing vines and a rugged coastline. The life style here is deeply rooted in ancient traditions and everyday activity is taken at a rather slow pace, though it speeds up somewhat at social gatherings where the regions delicious “green” wine, traditionally drank in porcelain bowls, flows freely. Agriculture flourishes under the heavy rains, which make Minho one of the most verdant regions of the country. Amongst the many interesting sites to visit in the south, the Bom Jesus church, with its magnificent baroque constructions, the Roman ruins of the Citânia de Briteiros and the market or Fair in Barcelos are not to be missed. To the north there are beautiful beaches waiting to be enjoyed.
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The Minho, the oldest region in Portugal, has an implanted system of small land holdings that date back to Roman times. The Romans forced the Celtic Iberians and the Lusitanians down land to settle in the fertile green valleys. It has not traditionally been a wealthy region and much of its population has long immigrated to new worlds, searching for a better standard of living.
It is still considered the “cradle of Portuguese civilization” as the first Portuguese King, D. Afonso Henriques, was born in Guimarães (incidentally one of Portugal’s most charming and attractive cities). Although now a modern region in many ways, the Minho stills keeps to many of its traditional habits – it is possible to be driving down a lane and suddenly come across an old ox-wood-wheel cart. The many contrasts of this region are one of the things that make it very charming. |
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Fiestas
The Minho is a region that values tradition and family life. It is no surprise, therefore, that festivities here are some of the most colourful and authentic in Portugal, with Holy processions to be found in most towns and villages. Some of the best “Festas” include Holy Week in Braga, “Romaria de S. Torcato” in Guimarães (July) and the “Festivities of Our Lady of Agony” in Viana do Castelo (August).
Handicrafts
With its traditional way of doing things handed down over the years, the Minho is undoubtedly a land of artisans. Typical products of fine craftsmanship include rugs and towels, basket making, and the decorative reusing of all kind of torches, oil-lamps and lanterns. Other popular handicrafts include embroidery, ceramics and pottery. Leather goods are also prominent everywhere.
Monuments
The Minho, birthplace of Portuguese nationhood, abounds with historic monuments. Guimarães, the country’s first capital, with its castle, medieval walls and a well-preserved historic centre is particularly interesting. The 15th century Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, for example, is rather impressive and possibly one of the finest of its kind in Europe. The churches of S. Miguel (Roman), Santos Passos (Baroque) and the Monastery of Stª Marinha da Costa are also worthy of note. Braga may not be as charming as Guimarães, but certainly no less monumental. As the religious capital of Portugal it has numerous fine churches. A visit to the Bom Jesus Sanctuary with its famous staircase is also certainly recommended. Climbing those stairs is hard work though, so it helps if you are fit. Viana do Castelo boasts the lovely Sanctuary of Santa Luzia, which being on top of the hill commands everything around it. Views are accordingly beautiful.
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| The typical caldo verde (a special vegetable soup – with shredded cabbage mixed with smashed potatoes, a touch of olive oil, garlic and a slice of chouriço) is a ubiquitous and tasty dish. There are many delicious sausages, stews, rice specialties like lamprey rice as well as tripas - food and sweets that are certainly rather rich. The area is famed for its distinctive “Vinho verde” (green wine – so called because it is young-aged). The Monção de Alvarinho Co-operative Society has some of the best wines in the region. |
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| The visitor should never be at a loss of things to do in the Minho. Choices include taking a dip in beautiful and often empty beaches (though these are somewhat colder than in the south), fishing in rivers, lagoons and the sea, as well as visiting the many historic towns and monuments. These include beautiful Guimarães, Portugal’s first capital and the cradle of Portuguese nationhood; Ponte de Lima, the lovely old town boasting a Roman bridge and Viana do Castelo, famous for its arts and crafts and its colourful regional clothing. Lovers of wild nature are recommended to visit the national park of Gerês. |
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