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Douro
DAY 1 - 8 October
ARRIVAL IN THE DUORO
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The Douro Valley could as easily be called the enchanted valley, such is the beauty and magic that its landscape offer.
It’s designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wine has been produced by traditional landholders in the Alto Douro region for some 2,000 years. Since the 18th century, its main product, port wine, has been world famous for its quality.
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Traversing the valley by car will give up jaw-dropping views of the surrounding landscape.
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This region is not only known for its countless vineyards, wineries and estates, but also for its charming villages, breathtaking landscapes, amazing rock art and excellent gastronomy.
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Check in at the Vintage House Douro Hotel, welcome cocktail and dinner at the hotel.
Vintage House Douro
This magnificent hotel, which used to house a former 19th Century winery, lies within an idyllic and tranquil riverside setting, surrounded by hills and mountains covered with vines. This wine lodge, on the banks of the river Douro, was converted into a hotel by port makers Taylor's for whom it had long been part of their estate.
The style of the hotel is in keeping with its 18th-century heritage, with beautiful antiques and historical memorabilia from its earliest wine lodge days. Of particular note is the Library Bar with its old wooden beamed ceiling.
DAY 2 -9 October
Stage 1, DOURO VALLEY
(about 145 km, 3 ½ hours drive)
On our first day we will drive along the N222, one of the most beautiful roads in the world.
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The road takes drivers along a glorious road that hugs the River Douro, enjoys spectacular views over the vineyards near the river.
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The journey offers an exhilarating driving experience, with superb views. The stretch of 27km mapped allow drivers to experience the car’s handling power, whilst offering frequently changing viewpoints.
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ITINERARY:
9.00 Departure from the hotel
10.00-11.00 Visit to Lamego
13.00-15.00 Lunch Quinta do crasto
15.30 Back to the hotel
19.00 Sunset cruise on the Douro River
20.00 Dinner at the hotel
Dress code: smart casual
Lamego
Lamego is an attractive town with Renaissance and baroque mansions overlooked by two hills. On one of the hills are the ruins of a 12th-century castle, on the other is the monumental baroque Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios.
A marvelous granite staircase decorated with tile panels, allegorical fountains, small chapels, and statues, leads to a baroque church with views over the town.
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While climbing the exquisite granite staircase with 686 steps, you’ll want to pause to admire the detail work—and catch your breath—on nine platforms decorated with intricate tiles, fountains, and statues.
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Quinta do Crasto
Located on the right bank of the Douro River, between Régua and Pinhão, Quinta do Crasto is a property with about 130 hectares, of which 70 are occupied by vineyards.
Quinta do Crasto has a privileged location in the Douro Demarcated Region and its origin dates back to ancient times (the name Crasto derives from the Latin “castrum”, which means “Roman fort”).
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We will enjoy a typical lunch overlooking the Douro river.
DAY 3 - 10 October
Stage 2, FROM DOURO TO DUERO
(about 275 km, 4 hours and 30 minutes drive)
On our second day we will leave Portugal to head towards Spain.
The Douro River runs across Portugal and continue into Castilla y León. From the grand Douro Valley wine region, whilst upstream across the border in Portugal, the drive provides picturesque scenery.
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On the way we will taste one of the most famous Vintage port of the area.
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ITINERARY:
9.00 Departure from the hotel
10.15-11.15 Port wine tasting at Quinta do Vesuvio
13.30-15.30 Lunch at Hacienda Zorita natural reserve
16.30 Arrival and check in at Hacienda Zorita Hotel
20.00 Dinner at the hotel
Dress code: smart casual
Quinta do Vesuvio
Steeped in history, intrigue, and memories of harvests past, Quinta do Vesúvio is one of the most magnificent estates in the Douro Superior, whose wines have gained legendary reputation around the world.
Quinta do Vesúvio is a working estate with a dedicated viticultural team and a centuries-old winery that comes to life during each harvest. It is also a home for the Symington family.
Hacienda Zorita Natural reserve
Situated in the spectacular Natural Park of Arribes del Duero, in the far west of Spain, the exquisite Hacienda Zorita Natural Reserve consist of two splendid independent villas - The Winemaker’s House and The Hunting Lodge, both of them surrounded by hectares of picturesque vineyards, and beautifully appointed with country-style furnishings and décor for a homey and inviting feeling.
You will enjoy an unforgettable farm experience and delightful lunch made with seasonal products.
Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel
Celebrity guests come and go — plenty of hotels, after all, have had a pop star or a politico muss up their sheets at one time or another — but it says something about Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Spa that the name they’re proudest to drop is that of Christopher Columbus, who paid a visit to this one-time monastery near Salamanca on his way to the New World just over half a millennium ago.
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That’s not to say the place is unchanged since then, though the contemporary interventions are subtle; only details like double vanities and the tasteful (electric) lighting break the fourteenth-century spell.
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There’s much to be said for the peace and quiet, but the main reason to come here is for the food and wine.
DAY 4 - 11 October
Stage 3, THE DUERO CANYON
(About 230 km , 3 1/2 hours drive)
In the morning drive to Zamora to enjoy a visit to the city with the most Romanesque churches in all of Europe.
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For lunch we will head towards the majestic Douro Canyon. With a length of about 130 km, the river canyon of the Douro is a section of the river, where it narrows and sinks, forming vertical cliffs that range from 640 to 150 meters in altitude.
This feature earned it the title of Grand Canyon of the Iberian Peninsula and one of the wildest areas in southern Europe.
In Miranda do Douro you can see a magnificent view over the river canyon.
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ITINERARY:
9.00 Departure from the hotel
10.00-11.00 Visit and coffee break in Zamora
12.00-15.00 Lunch in Miranda Do Duoro
16.30 Back to the hotel
18.30 Shuttle to Salamanca and visit
20.30 Dinner in Salamanca
Dress code: smart casual
Zamora
The town of Zamora in the Castile-Leon province of Spain is considered a ‘Romanesque Museum’ thanks to its wealth of Romanesque buildings and monuments that smatter the landscape. These architectural wonders have been well-preserved to make Zamora an important stop on the Romanesque route through Spain and Portugal.
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Zamora will surprise you from the very first moment you visit. The town is like a work of art, which combines perfectly with its traditional cuisine and beautiful landscapes.
Miranda do Douro
On the northeast corner of Portugal, right on the border with Spain stands a little town that bears a great significance.
With just a population of 6,466 people, the so-called “Museum City” is a fortified town that sits overlooking the Douro River, the perfect combination between nature, culture, and history.
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Miranda do Douro is home to one of the 3 official languages of Portugal, Mirandese, unique to the town and the surrounding regions, it is known for its special dances and music, as well as its amazing food.
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From all of these curiosities to the wonderful Douro Canyon, you will love your trip to the deep interior of Portugal!
Salamanca
Whether floodlit by night or bathed in late-afternoon light, there's something magical about Salamanca.
This is a city of rare beauty, awash with golden sandstone overlaid with ochre-tinted Latin inscriptions – an extraordinary virtuosity of plateresque and Renaissance styles. The monumental highlights are many and the exceptional Plaza Mayor (illuminated to stunning effect at night) is unforgettable.
This is also Castilla's liveliest city, home to a massive Spanish and international student population that throngs the streets at night and provides the city with so much vitality.
DAY 5 - 12 October
Stage 4, SIERRA DE FRANCIA
(about 235 km, 3 hours and 45 minutes drive)
Our last day will bring us in the hearts of Sierra de Francia, a remarkable region of steep, forested hills and a scattering of sleepy, picturesque villages of half-timbered houses with red tile roofs.
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Exploring the region along narrow, winding roads comes with sudden spectacular views as you make your way between villages.
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After lunch drive back to the hotel for our farewell dinner and party.
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ITINERARY:
09.00 Departure from the hotel
10.00-11.00 Visit to Julien Martin Spanish ham factory
12.30-14.30 Lunch in La Alberca
16.15 Back to the hotel
20.00 Farewell dinner at the hotel and party
Dress code: Casual chic
Julien Martin Ham
To create a good Iberian ham, like fame, is not easy. It takes time and know-how. But it also needs a very special climate.
Unlike the industrial manufacturing process used for Serrano ham, Iberian cured meats and hams require patience and long, cold, dry winters, as well as the necessary heat of the summer. All this presupposes that the pigs are of the Iberian breed and have stuffed themselves with acorns in the meadows during the ‘fattening’. For these reasons, Guijuelo, at an altitude of 1,010 metres at the foot of the Sierra de Béjar, is a legendary name in this industry.
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A visit to Julian Martin, with more than 80 years of history, is a ‘must-do’ on any ‘foodies’ tourist agenda and, in general, for any lover of the good life.
La Alberca
La Alberca is a charming village, awarded as one of the most beautiful towns in Spain.
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Travelling from Salamanca you will leave the hot plains to find this oasis, placed between two streams. This abundance of water has attracted every major civilization since pre-roman times. All of them left their print, resulting in a unique village!
TERMS AND REGULATION
We are eager to have you onboard! If you have any question and would like to participate in the event, please contact:
WayMatters
Via Principe Eugenio 30 - 20155 Milan - Italy
Email: info@waymatters.it
We will be happy to answer any question you may have regarding the tour, and to register you as a participant.
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Package price: 7.000 Euro (5.737,70 + VAT) per car.
The price is per vehicle and based on two people sharing one hotel room.
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The entry fee covers full hospitality, from the welcome reception on October 8th until departure on October 13th after breakfast. The entry fee includes: food & beverage, accommodation for 5 nights, welcome package, logistics, technical support, and professional photographers.
Please note that transportation costs to and from the event are not included in the price.
Programme may be subject to changes without notice.
