Norte, the northern part of Portugal is a land of dense vegetation and profound historic wealth. It is a varied region whose capital is Porto.

The inheritance of a distant past is seen everywhere.

You can stay at one of the excellent manor-houses and mansions with coats of arms, and enjoy the aristocratic tradition of hospitality. Along with this unreproachable art one may enjoy an abundant gastronomy - light wines (vinhos verdes) and rich wines, and a variety of handicrafts that mingles the shine of` the filigree with the colour of the local embroideries.

The country's longest motorway (A1, from Lisbon to Porto) goes up to Braga (A3), in the heart of Costa Verde. If you follow the coastline on the road from Vila do Conde to Valença, you will not miss the beautiful beaches, seaside resorts and enchanting villages such as Caminha and Vila Nova de Cerveira. Inland and worthwhile visiting is the Peneda-Gerês National Park.

Throughout the region the rivers, waterfalls, vineyards and fertile plots combine with the ancestral monuments in urban centres.