North Portugal Tourism Guide - Vila Real & Sabrosa

Vila Real

Vila Real is one of the bigger towns central to the Douro area acting as an important agricultural, market and transport centre. It sits at the confluence of the Corgo and Cabril rivers and although a university town, it still reflects the laid back pastoral atmosphere of the surrounding countryside. It is a good base from which to explore the Alvao Natural Park to the north and the Marao mountain range to the south which together help identify Vila Real as the "Gateway to the Tras-os-Montes".

In Vila Real itself is the 15th century gothic cathedral once part of a Dominican monastery. There are also several churches nearby including the 17th century Igreja dos Clergios with a fine baroque facade and tiled interior. There is a good viewpoint across the gorge of the Rio Corgo and Rio Cabril south at Mirodouro de Tras-do-Cemiterio.

Tourist Information Centres are at: Avenida Carvalho Araujo, 94 - 5000-657 Vila Real. Tel: 351 259 322 819. Fax: 351 259 328 415. Email: turismarao@mail.telepac.pt.

Regional Tourist Information Centre, Praca Luis de Camoes, 2, 5000-626 Vila Real. Tel: 351 259 323 560 or 259 322 819. Fax: 351 259 321 712 - 259 328 415. Email: turismarao@mail.telepac.pt

Mateus Palace near Vila Real

Probably the most famous sight in the Douro area is the Palacio de Mateus, three kilometres from Vila Real, which was built in the 18th century for the Count of Vila Real.

This is the grand house featured on every bottle of Mateus wine. Nicolau Nasoni strikes again, as he was the architect to design the Palace. This is the third most visited building in Portugal and guided tours are available. From the middle of July to September a music festival is held with over 40 concerts.

Open Jun-Sep 9am-7.30 pm; Oct, Mar and May 9 am-1 pm and 2-6 pm; Nov-Feb 10 am-1 pm and 2-5 pm. Tel: 351 259 323 121.

Four kilometres east of Palacio de Mateus is the roman site of Panoias, the sole remnant of the Vila de Constantim de Panoyas settlement. Open Tues 2-5 pm, Wed-Sun 9 am-12.30 pm and 2-5 pm.

Alvao Natural Park

The Alvao Natural Park, one of the most recently designated natural parks, lies to the north of Vila Real. This is a lovely area of high rounded heather clad mountains and native woodland.

The Alvao Natural Park's head-office is in Vila Real at Largo dos Freitas - 5000-528 Vila Real, Tel: 351 259 302 830 - Fax: 351 259 302 831, E-mail: pnal@icn.pt

Sabrosa, Douro

Sabrosa is a small town south east of Vila Real. Its attractions include the house where Ferdinand Magellan, the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe, once lived as well as a wealth of 15th century architecture. In and around the town is a wealth of archaeological history including a variety of relicts of settlements from the Neolithic period including Iron Age hill forts such as at Castro da Sancha and burial chambers.

It is also renowned for its full-bodied red wine made locally at the Adega Cooperativa winemaking plant and its cuisine including Portuguese stew "cozido a portuguesa" which contains roast kid with oven-baked rice, meat pie "bolas de carne" and desserts including "pao-de-lo" a kind of spongecake and glazed biscuits "cavacas altas".