Day 1: Zurich-Porto.
Scheduled flight from Zurich to Porto. Embarkation
Day 3: Porto-Guimarães-Régua.
In the morning, city tour through Porto, which was named European Capital of Culture in 2001. The historic centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our city guide took us from the colourful Cais da Ribeira, where a small market takes place market takes place every day, to the old Alfândega, a former customs office. We visited the richly decorated Bolsa stock exchange building. Finally, we drove to Vila Nova de Gaia, the centre of port wine. After visiting a famous winery famous winery, we were able to taste the delicious wine.
Day 3: Porto-Guimarães-Régua.
After breakfast, there was an excursion to the ‘birthplace of Portugal’. Here, at the foot of the Serra da Penha, the Portuguese state was founded around 1000 years ago: ‘Aqui nasceu Portugal’ is emblazoned in white letters on the city wall. ‘Portugal was born here’. The typical northern Portuguese city is more than just the little sister of Porto, 45 kilometres away. With its own university, UNESCO-protected old town, its own city charter, numerous sights and the 70 or so villages that belong to its ‘Municipal’, Guimarães is considered the cultural and tourist centre of the region. It was the European Capital of Culture in 2012. Back on board, we continued towards Régua. We enjoyed the journey through the beautiful, sun-drenched Douro Valley with its granite cliffs, vineyards, pine and olive groves. Our river boat passed the Carrapatelo lock, which is the highest of its kind in Europe with a drop of 36 metres.
Day 4: Régua–Barca d’Alva.
In the morning, we took a trip to the Mateus Palace, which still adorns the labels of the Bocksbeutel bottles of Mateus rosé, the best-selling wine in the world. It is It is worth visiting this splendidly furnished manor house with its well-tended garden. In the afternoon, we travelled on to Barca d'Alva. We sat on the sun deck or in the panoramic saloon and let the constantly changing images of the fascinating landscape take effect on us. On the hilltops and in the midst of the vineyards, there is always something new to discover hidden chapels or monasteries, winding alleyways and dreamy little towns.
Day 5: Vega de Terrón–(Salamanca).
Full-day excursion to the old Spanish university city of Salamanca. The centre of the city is the arcade-lined Plaza Mayor, where you can relax with a coffee or a glass of Vinho Verde. Sights worth seeing include the old and new cathedrals, the 15th century Casa de las Conchas, named after the pilgrim shells that adorn its façade, various baroque churches and monasteries as well as the Casa Lis, a magnificent Art Nouveau building with a museum. A Roman bridge, the Puente Romano, spans the Rio Tormes. We had lunch in the centre of Salamanca. In the afternoon, we visited the San Esteban monastery. The ship was moored in Vega de Terrón during this time.
Day 6: Vega de Terrón–Ferradosa–Pinhão.
Travel downriver through the sun-drenched ‘Região do Vinho de Porto’ - the region of port wine. Today's excursion takes us to the idyllic São Salvador do Mundo, which lies in the middle of the terraced vineyards of the Rio Torto. Of course, a tasting of the delicious port wine is a must here too. This takes place in a quinta in the middle of the vineyards. We enjoyed the view of the marvellous landscape. Embarkation in Pinhão, one of the centres of Portuguese wine culture and also known for its ‘azulejos’, the painted ceramic tiles.
Day 7: Pinhão–Porto.
After breakfast, excursion to the old episcopal city of Lamego. A baroque church crowns the town: Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. Around 700 steps lead up to the blue-tiled, twin-towered church - a place of pilgrimage visited by hundreds of thousands every year. We strolled through the ancient streets of the city, which was praised in writings as early as the 2nd century as one of the most beautiful cities in Iberia. In the afternoon, we enjoyed the extraordinary landscape of the Douro Valley and the impressive locks one last time on the descent to Porto.
Day 8: Porto–Zürich.
After breakfast, disembark and return flight to Switzerland.
