Douro River Valley
The Douro River Valley is on the list of recommended places when traveling to Portugal. It flows through the north of the country and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. You can get there by car, train and boat. Many bridges have been installed, but the most famous is the Ponte Lu's I bridge, built according to the design of Eiffel's student
History of the Douro Valley
The sources of the Douro River are located in the mountains, the length of the river is 897 kilometers. 213 kilometers flow in Portugal itself, namely in the area of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. The Douro flows along the picturesque city of Porto and other settlements. The popularity of the Douro River Valley came thanks to the marvelous landscapes and vineyards that took root on the slopes of high hills. The wine region was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.
The Douro Valley is one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world. Grape terraces, painted green, feel like velvet. For a successful escape from the annoying bustle of the city, there is no better place: small villages and small towns, filled with the spirit of long-standing traditions, have found their place here.
Features of the Douro River Valley
Among the beauty of all the cities formed in this place, Lamego occupies a special place. It was located at the base of the stairs, made of rough granite. It is divided into many tiers. The staircase is decorated with famous tiles carved in shades of white and blue. It leads to the Church of Our Lady of the Healing, which in turn is a striking example of the Rococo style. However, for beginners this path can be a little exhausting, because there are as many as 700 steps.
Closer to the Spanish border is the Douro International Natural Park. He deserves special attention. In the relict forests, entire groups of juniper, oak and olive groves have sprouted together.
The Coe flows into the river. In the Douro Valley, there is an archaeological park, a whole world of architectural richness, formed from open-air rock paintings. And on the rocks located along the coast, there are dozens and hundreds of petroglyphs dating back to the Late Paleolithic.
