Fado has never sounded so good! The plaintive vocals of this most traditional Portuguese music seem perfectly made for our times. So as we plan our Weekend in Portugal, a virtual trip to Portugal featuring Zoom events, tours and performances meant to offer guests an immersive experience of Portuguese food, wine, and culture, Fado seemed…
Porto is a new favorite destination for savvy travelers who love food, wine, scenery, and old world architecture. Marta, a proud Porto native, is busy with our popular new UnTour there! She is our UnTours staff person and welcomes UnTourists on this exciting new program in Portugal. Guests enjoy her hospitality and appreciate the knowledge…
The Livraria Lello is one of the most famous bookstores in the world, and it is for good reason. Tucked into the attractive, atmospheric pedestrian shopping zone of Carmelitas, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the charming town of Porto. Numerous travel magazines and websites have named it the world’s most…
As Portugal has become the new “it” destination, is it any wonder interest in Portuguese wines is on the rise? As the days get longer and the temperatures climb their way toward spring and summer, crisp and refreshing Vinho Verde is at the top of our list. Here are seven reasons why this delicious libation…
Port wine is a sweet, fortified wine made in Portugal for a few hundreds years. Port is a world, unknowable and sublime. Don’t be intimidated. You’ve gotta start somewhere, and Porto (on the Porto UnTour in northern Portugal) is just the spot to get oriented. Here are the basics, to make it all a little less…
The Douro river valley is one of Portugal’s most gorgeous regions, a place to be savored. Whether you explore it on an UnTour from your comfortable home base in Porto, or opt to see it on a Ventures river cruise, you should not miss it! Here are some of the memorable things you can see…
Sometimes compared to American blue music, the Fado song captures the essence of the Portuguese people more than any other music and offers a window into the country’s soul. This typically sad song is said to descend from African melodies, though there is no trace of the Fado song in African music nowadays. The music…
Porto is a fascinating city, full of vibrant neighborhoods and historic churches, palaces, and museums to explore. It is a colorful home base for our northern Portugal UnTour and a great launching point for exploring all of northern Portugal and even a little of Spain. Here are some excellent day trip options for you to…
Set dramatically on the banks of the Douro River, Porto is one of Portugal’s most beautiful, charming, and picturesque cities. It was a natural for our Northern Portugal UnTour. Here are some of our favorite sites in town. Cais da Ribeira The Ribeira District is teaming with restaurants, bars, and street life. This charming and…