ALPINE CREATIVE TOURS                          

ABOUT PORTO

Journey to Portugal where you will seize the splendor of the villages and countryside with Plein-Air painting,  sample the sumptuous native food and taste world famous port wine from the Douro Valley.

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Porto has a perfect setting for a watercolor plein air workshop. The town is located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal and is one of the oldest European cities, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is known for its stately bridges and port wine production and is one of the most beautiful places in Portugal, if not in Europe.

The center of the city is the Ribeira, its Old Town, dated from the Middle Ages. Here you will find narrow cobbled streets, Baroque churches, impressive palaces and the Clérigos Tower, a recognizable landmark. Built between 1754 and 1763, the tall bell tower is part of the Baroque-style Clérigos Church and towers above the Old Town. There are beautiful Beaux Arts buildings and tile-adorned facades all around the city. In addition, Porto has some of Europe’s freshest seafood, caught right off the coast. The climate shares many characteristics with the Mediterranean climates of southern Europe with warm summers and mild winters.

On our first day in this beautiful town, we will be painting by the colorful houses by Cais da Ribeira, on the bank of the river. We will enjoy the local cuisine and usurp the atmosphere at one of the restaurants on the square Praça da Ribeira. Later in the week, we will visit Gaia, on the opposite side of the river and paint the panorama over Porto from the Gaia boardwalk.

During the week, our excursions will go to:

Braga: Braga is a pedestrian-friendly city with cafes, beautiful water features, and an old cityscape. We will visit the sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte and the garden of Jardim de Santa Bárbara. The sight of the stairway zigzagging up to the church is as much a highlight as the church itself. Walk the 580 steps on foot and check out the statues and gardens along the way - or take the funicular to the top. The views are our reward!

Douro Valley: The Douro Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in the world. The area has a perfect climate and soil for cultivating grapes - port wine has been produced along the Douro River for 2000 years. The vineyards are planted on terraces on the steep hillsides above the riverbanks, which makes for a stunning landscape. Weather permitting, we will take a small boat river cruise along the Douro River, taking in the beautiful vistas of the sloping countryside.

Guimarães: This small town was once Portugal’s capital, and the city center is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Colorful buildings line the cobbled streets and outdoor cafes dot the pretty squares. Uphill from the center are the well preserved ruins of the iconic Castelo de Guimarães and nearby is the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, which is built in the style of a French chateau, with beautiful grounds. We will take the cable car, Teleférico de Penha, up 1300 feet to get to stunning views over the city.

One day we will focus on Portuguese Food & Wine, and this will also be our Sketch Day: The newly renovated Bolhao Market will be our first stop and here we will sketch fruit, vegetables, and people! In the afternoon we will take a Food Tour to discover the best food that Porto has to offer. We will top off the day with a visit to one of the antique wine cellars and wineries in Vila Nova de Gaia district, where we get to sample port wine.

This workshop is a unique opportunity to explore Portuguese culture, history, food, and wine while capturing it all in our watercolor paintings.

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