Royal Barge on the Douro

Fly from your chosen airport to Porto and embark on the MS Spirit of Chartwell for seven nights. Baroque churches, bell towers and beaux-art buildings seem to sit on each other’s shoulders on Porto’s riverbank hills, the country’s second largest city straddling the Douro. Sights worth seeing include the 14th-century São Francisco church and port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Overnight in Porto.
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After a city tour of Porto, which includes a visit to a port wine cellar, we cruise upstream, crossing the Crestuna-Lever Dam and floodgate enroute to an overnight mooring at Entre-os-Rios, where a bridge links the rural riverbanks. Enjoy a traditional Portuguese show on board.
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The royal barge navigates the 35metre-high lift of the Carrapatelo Dam as we cruise to Régua, from where we visit the 18^th century Mateus Manor House, a beautiful little baroque palace, set amid gorgeous gardens. We continue toward Pinhão with time to marvel at one of the most beautiful Railway stations in Portugal. After a scenic drive we arrive for dinner at a local Quinta.
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After morning cruising passing the Valeira Dam, an afternoon excursion takes you to the charming medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo, nestled on a hillside beneath its battle-scarred castle. Sturdy gateways still stand, though little is left of the city walls, a former turret is now a clocktower, and two churches and a stone fountain can be found along its rough-cobbled lanes. Two nights moored in Barca d’Alva.
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A day at leisure lets you choose to relax on board and enjoy Barca d’Alva, or take an optional road tour into Spain to visit the UNESCO World Heritage City of Salamanca. With free time to explore the area around the majestic Plaza Mayor, a guided tour of the medieval old town includes the 15^th century Casa de las Conchas (‘house of shells’), and the 16th-17th century Gothic ‘New Cathedral’ (£50).
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We begin our return journey, sailing downriver through the Pocinho, Valeira and Régua Dams, and pausing for a wine tasting visit to Quinta do Seixo, the home of Sandeman port. Special Portuguese dinner on the barge. Overnight in Régua.
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Today’s excursion is to ancient Lamego, where a 12th century castle crowns one of its two hills, the Episcopal Palace is now the town’s museum, frescoes and Flemish tapestries adorn the Gothic cathedral, cafés and monuments line the broad Avenida, and all is overseen by the church of Our Lady of the Remedies, atop an astonishing baroque staircase, 686 steps high and embellished with blue and white tiles. Sail to Porto for overnight. Farewell Jules Verne drinks aboard.
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Transfer to the airport for your return flight (or to the hotel of your chosen extended stay).
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