REVEL IN THE PORTUGUESE CUISINE AND EXPERIENCE THE AUTHENTIC FLAVOURS OF THE DOURO REGION

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Welcome, Marma invites you to experience the fantastic region of Douro Valley aboard an unforgettable journey along the river on a vintage wooden boat. Your adventure starts with the discovery of the less known but just as beautiful part of the Douro – the so-called “Douro Verde”, which differentiates itself from the rest of the river stretch for being linked to the demarcated region of vinho verde wines and for having a landscape of dense vegetation and humid climate, in contrast with the drier Douro Vinhateiro.

After a train ride from Porto to Mosteiró, embark on the pier of Porto Antigo and come and discover the best this region has to offer.

Once aboard the boat, we sight the mouth of the Bestança River which flows into the Douro. Here, the vegetation is well structured and the water is clear, making this one of the rivers with the best environmental quality. Amidst the landscape surrounding it we find houses with gardens which seem straight out of a movie – well deserving of a visit before the stop for lunch.

Afterwards we head for the border between the granitic area of the vinhos verdes region and the schist region of Port Wines. There we find Quinta da Covela, dating from the 16th century and formed by the ruins of the renaissance manor, wine press and chapel. Witness the centuries-old presence of vinho verde production and its historical significance, which more recently belonged to Manoel de Oliveira, one of the most important European filmmakers of our time.

It’s also here that, after a guided tour to the property, the lunch is served under a trellis, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, accompanied by a premium quality wine tasting. Having concluded this experience, we head to the House of Tormes, House-Museum and headquarters of Fundação Eça de Queiroz, where once lived one of the greatest novelists of all Portuguese literature, the first and foremost Portuguese realist writer.

Approaching the heart of the Alto Douro Vinhateiro, we arrive to Quinta S. Bernardo to check-in. This amazing boutique hotel with only 7 bedrooms is a pleasant surprise in Mesão Frio. The building dating from 1912 was fully restored and it kept the family spirit alive through details and decoration.

Enjoy a drink on the terrace, where you can admire the view to the river and revel in the last rays of sunshine before dinner.

Dinner is served in the hotel restaurant. Everything will be prepared with the best products and ingredients from the property – everything is local and deeply rooted in the tradition of the region, using only the best seasonal produce.

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WAKE UP TO A BLISSFUL SCENERY IN THE DOURO AND FEAST ON A FANTASTIC BREAKFAST WITH A STUNNING VIEW

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Breakfast is served in the hotel with an amazing variety of local and fresh produce.

After a meal like this, it feels good to take a walk by the quinta, ambling along the vineyards, with a beautiful backdrop, to the boat. Then you will finally discover the Alto Douro Vinhateiro, the Baixo Corgo and the Alto Corgo.

Now we set sail for Pinhão, our destination for today. Along the way we go up the Régua sluice, with a height of 28 metres, before we arrive to a charming property, located precisely in the border between the sub region of Baixo and Alto Corgo, on the right bank of the Douro River. Quinta dos Murças is characterised by the diversity of its “Eight Terroirs”, identified in 48 hectares denoted by the mountains, different altitudes and sun exposures, schist soils, and climate, where viticulture and vinification are the least invasive possible because the production is biological (in the process of certification). It is an historic wine farm where, in 1947, was planted the first vertical vineyard of this region. Take a hike through the vines and enjoy a guided visit to the wine-aging cellar. There will be Douro wine and Port tasting – discover by yourself all this diversity in your own glass.

We head to the next stop for a lunch in DOC, an excellent restaurant where every dish appeals to the senses. Inspired in the regions of Trás-os-Montes and Douro, and with a strong contemporary component, the team of Michelin Star Chef Rui Paula will prepare everything to the tiniest detail and make sure each moment is unforgettable in this magical place, where the vine covered mountains merge with the tranquillity of the river.

After lunch, let yourself be charmed by a wondrous boat ride, passing by the most emblematic wine producing quintas, until we arrive to Quinta do Ventozelo. This time around you will visit one of the largest (around 400 hectares) and oldest properties of the Douro demarcated region, with its first historical reference dating back from 1288.

Here, there are many sensations to experiment: it’s not only the view over the Douro or the drawn vineyards; it’s also the overwhelming expectant silence and the unmistakable richness of aromas that fill your chest with each step. Check-in in the hotel and go enjoy a walk through the marked path, and behold the diversity of fauna and flora that surrounds you. Then you will have a guided visit to the wine-aging cellar and stop by the interpretative centre that tells the history of Douro, closing with a Port and Douro wine tasting.

After the wine experience, recoup your energy with a picnic on the river bank, because you will need it for the excitement that will ensue – a breathtaking scenic helicopter ride back to Porto, to end our journey in spectacular fashion.

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