Pinhão, Portugal
Saturday, June 17
9:45 AM
6 Hours
Moderate
UNESCO
Working World
Sightseeing
Meal
Honoring a Rich Tradition of Bread and Wine
Head to the little village of Favaios and make your way to one of the last traditional bakeries in the Douro Valley. Meet your guide for a visit to this charming village, where bakers make bread the traditional way: in an oven heated with wood and old grapevines. After enjoying a fresh-from-the-oven sample, visit the local museum of wine and bread to learn about the importance of these industries to this small town. After, take time to explore this typical village that has retained its old-world ambience. Continue to Quinta da Avessada, a beautiful century-old wine-growing estate in the heart of the Douro wine region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you will meet the dedicated vintners, tour the atmospheric cellars and sample some local varieties of port in the rustic tasting room.
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.
Régua, Portugal
Sunday, June 18
9:00 AM
3 Hours
Moderate
Sightseeing
Walk in the Footsteps of Pilgrims
Visit the sacred pilgrimage town of Lamego and witness the legacy of Moors. Journey with your guide to the elegant Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, or Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, a baroque wonder dating to the 18th century. The small hilltop chapel is reached via 686 steps up a grand double staircase, interrupted by nine terraces. Along the way, the devout can admire azulejo tiles and decorative urns. Still today, pilgrims often conduct the long upward journey on their knees. You, however, will begin your exploration at the top of the stair. Visit the shrine, decorated with exquisite blue-and-white tilework. From the top, you will have spectacular views of the town and its surroundings. Descend the grand baroque staircase at your leisure. . After, you will enjoy free time; perhaps step inside Lamego’s Gothic cathedral or browse the town center shops for locally crafted, handmade products.
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.
Porto, Portugal
Monday, June 19
9:00 AM
3.5 Hours
Moderate
Shopping
Sightseeing
UNESCO
Explore the “City of Bridges”
Experience the intriguing city of Porto on foot and see the sights during a leisurely walk. Admire the city’s noted architecture, such as the iconic Luís I Bridge, a double-decked metal arch that spans the Douro River. Walk across the upper level of the bridge to Porto Cathedral, a Romanesque landmark in the Old Town. Learn more about the 12th-century church, one of the oldest monuments in the city, and see the stunning interior. Continue to São Bento train station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Monument of Portugal. View the blue and white tile panels inside, depicting historical scenes of Portugal. Then, head to the most famous street in Porto, the newly-renovated Rua das Flores. Enjoy free time to explore Ribeira’s riverfront; from here you may choose to walk back to the ship with your guide, or return independently by water taxi.
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.
Tuesday June 20th
Our flight leaves at 6:30 am so we will be leaving the ship around 3:00 am. Does this mean we will get up at Midnight? Probably.