Vila Real

VILA REAL sits on a high spur above the deep valley of the Rio Corgo, a tributary of the Douro. The name means “Royal Town” and, as home to the largest concentration of nobility outside Lisbon, it was once very apt, although today it has more of an industrial role, as well as being the home of the University of Trás-os-Montes. Founded and named by Dom Dinis in 1289, its setting is magnificent, with the twin mountain ranges of Marão and Alvão forming a natural amphitheatre behind the town. It’s the nearest base for seeing the Parque Natural do Alvão, while other local attractions include the Roman site at Panóias and the Casa de Mateus – the country house featured on the Mateus Rosé wine label. Even so, you’ll be hard pushed to spend more than a night here.