Welcome Reception  | Douro Vineyard Tour  | Conference Dinner  | 

Welcome Reception

Tuesday, September 3, 19.30h

The welcome reception will take place in Hotel Miracorgo in Vila Real city center:

Douro Vineyard Tour

Thursday, September 5, Afternoon

Due to the number of participants registered the tour will have two options. In due time participants will be asked to select between option I or II.

We will be leaving UTAD for the Conference Tours and Gala Dinner Thursday, September 5, at 15h30m. The meeting point will be the Aula Magna Hall.

After the tours all the participants will be taken to the Vintage Hotel in Pinhão. 

Option I - Quintas das Carvalhas

The tour will take place in one the oldest Douro Valley vineyard: Quinta das Carvalhas da Real Companhia Velha:

Quinta das Carvalhas

A trip by bus will take the participants from UTAD University to Quinta da Carvalhas in the village of Pinhão (Vila Real –> Peso da Régua –> Pinhão). This trip takes approximately 50 minutes. As Quinta das Carvalhas altitudes range between 80m to 500m, the bus will take the participants to a high starting point. From that point, starts a walking tour through the vineyards using a farm internal road (you can see the type in the one of the following photos). This walking tour will be guided by Quinta das Carvalhas expert staff. The walking is always performed in a descending path (downhill facing the river Douro), and it will take approximately 2h30. Thus, if you do not enjoy walking it is advisable to select Option II. Usually the weather in Pinhão is quite hot in this time of the year. There will be a stop in the middle of the farm, to enjoy some drinks and take photos. The walking trip will finish near the river Douro in a Farm Souvenir Shop.

Participants will then leave Quinta das Carvalhas, cross the Douro bridge (see photo bellow) and go to the Vintage House Hotel (opposite river margin). Depending on the time spent in Quinta das Carvalhas, participants may enjoy some free time in Pinhão before going to the Vintage House for dinner (20h). 

After the gala dinner is concluded (about 23h), participants will be taken to Vila Real by bus. There will be two stops in Vila Real: near the UTAD University main entrance and Hotel Miracorgo (city center). If you are leaving the car in the University in that day, it is preferable to park it outside the main UTAD entrance.

Option II - Douro Museum and Quinta da Pacheca

This tour will visit first the Douro Museum located in Peso da Régua and after Quinta da Pacheca. Some photos from Quinta da Pacheca are presented bellow.

A trip by bus will take the participants from UTAD University to Douro Museum in the city center of Peso da Régua (Vila Real –> Peso da Régua). This trip takes approximately 30 minutes. The Douro Museum is located besides the Douro River and has an excellent view to take some photos. A guided visit to the Douro Museum will take place (1 hour). After, the trip by Bus continuous to Quinta da Pacheca (20m). The guided visit will be provided by Quinta da Pacheca staff, including a visit to the vineyards, cellars concluded with a wine tasting (three different Douro wines) and snacks.

The tour will leave Quinta da Pacheca, go to the Vintage House Hotel in Pinhão (about 30 minutes). Depending on the time spent in Quinta da Pacheca, participants may enjoy some free time in Pinhão before going to the Vintage House for dinner (20h). 

After the gala dinner is concluded (about 23h), participants will be taken to Vila Real by bus. There will be two stops in Vila Real: near the UTAD University main entrance and Hotel Miracorgo (city center). If you are leaving the car in the University in that day, it is preferable to park it outside the UTAD main entrance.

Conference Dinner

Thursday, September 5, 20.00h

The conference dinner will take place in the Vintage House Hotel (Douro Valley), in the Village of Pinhão:

Some photos taken in Pinhão are presented.

After the Conference

What follows is not included in the EPIA-2019 Social Program, but can help you programing an excellent weekend after the conference. Here follows some suggestions of places and facilities you can easily visit from Vila Real. 

Peso da Régua

Peso da Régua ( also known as Régua ) is located at approximately 27 Km from Vila Real. Vila real and Régua are connected by a highway. Régua, just nearby the Douro river, is in the in the heart of the Douro Valley.  It has a wonderful natural scenery combining the river surrounded by vineyards. Régua has a long tradition of O’Porto wine trading, and not so long ago the wine was transported from Régua to O’Porto (Gaia Cellars) in traditional boats known as Rabelos.

In Régua you can visit the Douro Museum, a 18^th century mansion where besides the wine-production history, there are art exhibitions.

From Régua it is also possible to take a Douro tour (or cruise) by boat, or travel by train (e.g. to O’Porto and Pinhão).  

São Leonardo de Galafura

In between Vila Real and Régua ( about 21 Km from Vila Real) you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views from the Douro valley. It is located at about 640m high near a small chapel with excellent viewpoints for both the Douro River and vineyards. You can also enjoy a nice meal in a restaurant 100m from the viewpoint.

Lamego

Lamego is a city located about 42Km from Vila Real ( you can follow the same highway connecting Vila Real and Régua). The history of Lamego goes back far before Portugal was a country, so there is plenty to visit such as a Cathedral and a beautiful sanctuary ( Nossa Senhora dos Remédios ).  

Other Suggestions

Other places/activities that you can easily visit/do leaving from Vila Real are the following:

·         Parque Natural do Alvão (about 17 Km)

·         Amarante (about 41 Km)

·         Pedras Salgadas ( about 39 Km)

·         Vidago (about 51 Km )

·         Chaves (about 67 Km)

·         Mirandela (about  59 Km )

·         Pena Aventura Park ( about 42 Km )