Area:Out and about in Galicia, Spain.

Galicia

Northern Portugal

The northernmost region of Portugal and bordering Galicia,
Costa Verde is Portugal�s most beautiful province with many lush green valleys, hills of forests and unspoilt coastal villages.

The most famous rivers of the Minho, Lima & Douro run through the area
helping to provide helping to provide Vinho Verde, Albarinho wines as well as, of course, Port.

A wealth of activities from hiking, rafting and climbing as well as more traditional sports
compliment this colourful province renown for its welcoming local festivities in the many local villages of the area.

For the more traditional tourist there are many towns and cities in history & culture,
including Porto, Braga and the original capital of Portugal Guimares.

Porto is the main city in the area with an international airport and a beautiful riverside location next to the Douro.

Birthplace of the fortified wine, Port, there are many wine caves, where it can be sampled.
The city is historical but also sophisticated with fabulous shops.

There is also an excellent rail network one of which follows the Douro valley inland to the area where the Port vineyards are located.
Another rail route follows the coastline North to Valen�a and if you wish across to Galicia and Vigo.

Braga

With its many churches, cathedrals and palaces, Braga is the ecclesiastical capital with an historical centre.

There are markets in most towns including Barcelos and Espinho,
and the fortified towns of Mon�ao, Melga�o and Valen�a on the Southern banks of the river Minho
which have the views and surrounding countryside when you are shopped out!

More town details to follow....

Climate

The climate is tempered with a good quantity of rain giving it the lush green countryside.
However it is not as wet as forecasters would have you believe.
It is an area certainly receiving the Atlantic winds but with warmer conditions of course being it is further South than France or the Isles.

The Southern regions enjoy a gentle climate with average summer temperatures between 30 and 35 Celsius

Current weather and forecasts for the area:- Meteo

Food and Drink

Info to follow - still tasting !

Transport

There is a good transport system, very good and mostly quiet, with wonderful views of the countryside and coast.
Motorways run up from Lisbon and cross from Braga to Vianha.
The coastal route is the only toll free autoroute at present.

Trains

Services run from Porto to Braga and also a coastal route to Valen�a and then across the Spanish border to Vigo.

Airports

"Oporto" is the main international airport and has a wonderful spacious terminal with underground parking and direct easy walk link to the Metro system.
Flights from here link up to Lisbon and literally the rest of the World. EasyJet, RyanAir and TAP (the National carrier) have direct flights to the UK & Ireland.

Also you can use Vigo in Spain which flies to many regional airports and now also London Heathrow.

Further North is Santiago De Compostela (Lavacola) with daily flights to London, Madrid etc.

Sea

Ferry services to Bilbao and Santander which at the moment are about 4hours from the North-east border of Galicia.
Again there is a new motorway under construction to reduce this travel time.

Alternatively you can make use of the large international terminal at Vigo for embarking on cruise ships (Med and Atlantic) which frequently call in!

Porto is now host to some cruise ships and of course as is Lisbon (3 hours drive from Porto)

Portugal is a region of where you are feasting on either beautiful countryside,

Atlantic breakers, or delicious food and wines.

Come and sample what it has to offer!