Elegant Villas & Country Houses in Portugal Brochure

Destination Portugal (Witney Travel) presents Elegant Villas & Country Houses in Portugal, a brochure drawing on 31 years of experience specialising in travel to Portugal, Madeira and the Azores. The collection focuses on the Costa Verde, the beautiful and unspoilt coastal region bounding Portugal's northern-most provinces, Douro and Minho.

Discovering the Costa Verde

Literally translated as "The Green Coast", the Costa Verde lies on the same latitude as Spain's Costa Brava. For many people this is the 'real' Portugal, where the way of life, traditions, architecture and scenery remain untouched by mass tourism, or greatly influenced by modern ways.

Places to Visit

Destination Portugal highlights a range of towns, resorts and natural attractions across the region:

• Amarante: a picturesque little town above the right bank of the River Tâmega, neglected by most tourists.
• Espinho: a seaside resort south of Porto with broad beaches of coarse sand and a seafront promenade.
• Guimarães: a beautiful medieval town, the first capital of Portugal and birthplace of King Afonso Henriques, with a lively open air market every Friday.
• Monção: an old fortified frontier town on the left bank of the River Minho, opposite the Spanish town of Salvatierra de Miño, and home of Alvarinho Vinho Verde, the first wine ever exported from Portugal in the 15th century.
• Ofir: a vast expanse of sandy beach fringed by pinewoods, near the River Cavado, which is very good for fishing or canoeing.
• Porto: the second largest city in Portugal and the home of the Port Wine trade, lying at the mouth of the Douro River.
• Peneda-Gerês National Park: some 170,000 acres of forests, man-made lakes, rivers, rocky ridges and waterfalls, with abundant wildlife.

The City of Porto

Porto's granite-trimmed, red-roofed buildings tumble over each other to the waterfront, and one of the best ways to see the city is from the River. The old quarter of Ribeira on the waterfront offers interesting small restaurants, and Taylor's Port Lodge is worth a visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who produced this brochure?

It was produced by Destination Portugal (Witney Travel), a specialist with 31 years of experience of travel to Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.

What does Costa Verde mean?

Costa Verde literally translates as "The Green Coast", the beautiful and unspoilt coastal region bounding Portugal's northern-most provinces, Douro and Minho.

Why is the Costa Verde considered the 'real' Portugal?

For many people it is the 'real' Portugal because the way of life, traditions, architecture and scenery remain untouched by mass tourism or greatly influenced by modern ways.

What is special about Guimarães?

Guimarães is a beautiful medieval town, the first capital of Portugal and birthplace of King Afonso Henriques, and it holds a lively open air market every Friday.

What can nature enthusiasts find in the region?

The Peneda-Gerês National Park covers some 170,000 acres of forests, man-made lakes, rivers, rocky ridges and waterfalls, with abundant wildlife.

What is Porto known for?

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and the home of the Port Wine trade, lying at the mouth of the Douro River.

This brochure is part of the Catalink archive and may no longer be available to order. The information above describes Destination Portugal (Witney Travel). For current details, visit the company's official website.