Nudging the border of Spanish Galicia, this region of Portugal specializes in vineyards and remote, traditional villages – the perfect setting for wine-tastings, hikes, rural homestays, baroque masterpieces, and the always magnetic Porto.

Portugal’s second largest city, with more than one million inhabitants, Porto boasts more than a few highlights on its unrivalled riverside location. There are numerous viewpoints from which to admire the city’s steep slopes, starting with the deck of a typical rabelo on its circular six bridges tour of the river.

From any one of these spots you will see the dense urban fabric that has been woven since Phoenician and Roman times when Porto was known as Cale, later adding Portus to become Portus-Cale – thus the origin of the national name.

Narrow alleyways, rough cobblestones, and tortuous steps riddle the northern riverbank while church spires vie with draped laundry to set the most atmospheric scenery. You will need energy and muscles to negotiate the steep streets; but since this is the stuff of theatre sets, it may inspire you to sit back and drink it all in.