Régua, Portugal
Wednesday, June 14
2:45 PM
5 Hours
Easy
Sightseeing
An Elegant Palace and a Refined Wine Estate
Visit the extraordinary Mateus Palace, the building depicted on the Mateus Rosé wine labels, and enjoy a wine tasting at a local quinta. You will journey with your guide to Vila Real. The stunning baroque Mateus Palace here was the home of the last Count of Vila Real; its pinnacled facade, grand stairway, richly appointed interiors and priceless objects on display will amaze you, as will the palace’s enchanting formal gardens featuring cedar-lined walkways, exquisite sculpted hedges and statuary, and serene bodies of water. Then, visit one of the area’s port wine–making institutions, where you will stroll through the vineyard and bottling facility to learn how its unique port wines are crafted.
Easy – Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
Thursday, June 15
The following tour conflicts with our picnic tour so it is included for info only.
2:00 PM
3 Hours
Demanding
Sightseeing
A Remarkable Hilltop Town Near the Spanish Border
Head into the breathtaking countryside to visit hilltop Castelo Rodrigo, a tiny medieval fortress town that time seems to have forgotten. The town is named for its castle, which has been listed as a National Monument since 1922. Drive with your guide for about 12 miles past pine-wood forests, rolling hills and almond trees as you ascend to 2,200 feet above sea level, where an enchanting maze of cobblestone streets crisscrosses the hillside. During your tour of Castelo Rodrigo, one of Portugal’s 12 historic parishes, you will stroll among the 16th-century houses, admiring their distinct Portuguese Manueline-style windows. Explore the historic Sinagoga Street, a memento to the Jewish community established here by refugees escaping the Spanish Inquisition. After stopping to visit the local church, you will return to your ship through the same astonishing landscapes that led you here, stopping to take in the panoramic views along the way.
Demanding – Physically challenging activities, including extensive walks, hiking, riding, water sports, and high altitude activities. Activities by foot may contain difficult, unpaved surfaces and/or multiple stairs and steep inclines. Total time walking or standing may exceed 3 hours.
Thursday, June 15
12:30 PM
4.75 Hours
Moderate
Meal
Special Interest
Savor Local Flavors in a Serene Setting
Walk the winding lanes of a 2,500-year-old town and feast on a delightful picnic in the hills. Board your motor coach and travel to Marialva, a small town overlooked by the ruins of a hilltop citadel, with delightful small squares, diminutive churches, narrow streets and a rich history. Continue to the nearby Casas do Côro, built on the northern slope under the castle, and enjoy a sumptuous picnic. The grounds house a fine hotel, a spa and private villas in an exquisite landscape that cascades down the hillside. Next, enjoy the spectacular scenery from the inviting vineyard lounge, a perfect location in an idyllic setting. On the terrace, sample a selection of regional specialties, including cheese, sausages, Iberian roast pork and salads, savoring dishes that incorporate ingredients from the casa’s own gardens along with estate-produced wine.
Moderate – Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
Friday, June 16
8:00 AM
9.5 Hours
Moderate
UNESCO
Sightseeing
Snack
An Ancient University and a Mammoth Cathedral
Visit Spain’s oldest college town, an invigorating tapestry of scholarly, religious and cultural pursuits. Cross the Spanish border with your guide and drive through the Iberian countryside to Salamanca, known as “La Dorada,” or “The Golden City,” due to the glow of its sandstone structures. After time exploring the vast Plaza Mayor, surrounded by beautiful baroque buildings, enjoy a visit to the local market to sample some regional cuisine. After, continue to the 13th-century Salamanca University. You will also see the House of Shells, an unusual medieval building decorated with more than 300 carved mollusks. Your tour concludes at the New Cathedral, a golden-hued Gothic-baroque masterpiece built from 1513 through 1733. After, there will be free time to explore on your own, perhaps stepping inside the Romanesque-Gothic Old Cathedral or other icons of Spanish architecture: the 15th-century Tower del Clavero, the 16th-century Monterrey Palace and many beautiful churches and convents.
Moderate – Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.