Vila Real

Visit to the area should certainly include a trip on the railway to Vila Real. An incredibly engineered route which winds its way 25 kilometres along the Corgo Valley with some unbelievable horse shoe bends and everywhere, clinging to the hillsides, the grape vines which would, in places, appear impossible to harvest.

Although an interesting and important regional centre, the main attraction at Vila Real is the Mateus Palace the picture of which adorns the label of every bottle of Mateus Rosé. The palace and its magnificent gardens are open to the public and are about four kilometres from the town, well signposted or there is a fairly frequent bus service. Ask at the station. In the town centre itself there are plenty of cafés offering a good value dish of the day. Two options worth considering would be:

O Churrasco on Rua Antonio Azevedo is an inexpensive grill house with a good atmosphere.

O Espadeiro on Avenida Almeida Lucano is a more expensive option but offers a varied menu with more local specialities.