Morgadio da Calcada

In the world's oldest demarcated wine region, the Alto Douro, producing the legendary Port Wine, the ancient village of Provesende, 600 metres above sea level, high above the River Douro, has a fascinating history.

With ten manor houses (some, now sadly, falling to ruin), an amazingly ornate 18th century baroque church, the old fountain with the archbishop's crest, dating from 1755 and the 1578 pillory, over the centuries the village has attracted many noble families because of its heritage and importance and was the seat of local government for 20 years in the 17th century.

Surrounded by vineyards and looking down onto yet more vines in terraces snaking round the hillside, Provesende is today a quiet and peaceful place, with the freshest of mountain air, but has three bars and a wonderful old bakery where the best of bread is still baked in a traditional oven.
Down below on the river, Pinhao, with its unusual train station with beautiful azulejos, and further up the valley, lovely Sabrosa, hometown to Ferdinand Magellan, are just two places to explore.Wander around the fascinating village of Provesende with its 18th century baroque church and ten manor houses.

• Take a romantic boat trip on a WW11 period wooden boat, departing from Pinhao up the River Douro towards Tua.
• Drive leisurely round the world’s oldest demarcated vineyards, the whole area a Unesco world heritage site –dazzling beautiful steep terraced vineyards rise dramatically from the imposing river Douro with white washed “quintas” – manor houses perched high above.
• Visit the many historical port –wine lodges “quintas” along the valley to sample and buy some of Portugal’s premier wines.
• Visit the quaint riverside village of Pinhao and delightful train station with its beautiful “azulejos” – tiles. Stunning train ride from here upriver to Pocinho.
• Walking plenty of opportunities all over the area. There is a spectacular walk from Provesende, 600 metres above sea level, down through vineyards to Pinhao.
• Visit the handsome town of Lamego and climb the astonishing baroque stairway up to the church of Sehora de Remedios and try their local tipple “raposeira”, fragant sparkling wine. Take a pleasant walk down from Lamego to the Capela de São Pedro in the hamlet of Balsemão – built in the 6th century by the Visigoths – older than Portugal itself!
• Discover the Portugal’s first Cistercian monastery São João de Tarouca (now in ruins) and the monastery of Salzedas, built in 1168, one of the grandest in the land, in the wooded Barosa valley, south of Lamego.
• Don’t miss a visit to the grand 18th century Palacio de Mateus at Vila Real, famously depicted on bottles of Mateus Rose.
• See the world famous gallery of Palaeolithic rock art at the Parque Arquelógico do Vale de Côa.
• Picnic at the beauty spot of San Salvador del Mundo – hill, vineyard and river views a real treat!
• Sample the local and traditional restaurants or more sophisticated cuisine experiences renowned for their use of seasonal, locally grown produce.