With the holidays just around the corner – if you haven’t already been one of the lucky ones who has been able to hang up the closed sign to unwind for a few days – we start making plans to get away from the routine a little and, of course, traveling is the best way to reset. It doesn’t always take a lot of time or a big budget to organize a decent getaway that will help us regain our strength and return home recharged.
The destination is not always the most important thing, there are times when the journey is everything. The plan we are going to propose is within that group of trips in which the experience of the journey is what makes the difference and makes it something special. We are going to prepare a light suitcase but with all the essentials and, above all, a great desire to enjoy the trip whether we have decided to go alone or in company.
For this trip we will not need to save up for the whole year. To buy the train ticket from the Douro Line We will need a little less than 15 euros, so money is not an excuse. It is a perfect option for a weekend getaway, or even for a day trip if you live in the north of Spain or are visiting the area.
Travelling by train is an experience in itself, with all the flavour of the romanticism of another era. Without rushing and without any worries other than enjoying the landscapes through the windows of our carriage as we advance parallel to the banks of the Duero.
If you are also a history lover, you will enjoy its trains even more. The oldest is the historic Douro traina 1925 steam locomotive with five wooden carriages, but most trains date from between 1940 and 1970. The line opened in 1875 and its tracks have never been deserted since.
The entire journey can be done in four hours. The final stop is in Pocinho, about 50 kilometres from Spain, although until 1988 there was a stop in Barca de Alba, from where you could continue to Salamanca.
The Linha do Douro runs through the Alto Douro wine region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a picturesque route that is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Here updated schedules can be consulted.
One line, many options
We can start our route in Porto and the last stop is in Pocinho. The train also passes through twenty cities and towns such as Pala, Mosteirô, Aregos, Mirão, Ermida, Porto de Rei, Barqueiros, Rede, Caldas de Moledo, Godim, Régua, Covelinhas, Ferrão, Pinhão, Tua, Alegria, Ferradosa, Vargelas, Vesúvio and Freixo de Numão.
The riverside route starts in Pala, and from Regua to Pocinho the most beautiful landscapes dotted by the meandering Douro River are concentrated. From the moving train we will leave behind the terraced vineyards that cover the Portuguese hills of this area and its typical villages.
The advantage of taking the train that makes stops is that it gives us the possibility of getting off and leaving the stations we choose to visit their towns, learn a little more about their culture and enjoy the rich Portuguese cuisine.
Day trips
To make the most of our trip, we can take the train that leaves Sao Bento at 9.20 in the morning and goes directly to Pocinho, without making any other stops. It arrives at our destination at 12.38 and the departure can be scheduled at 13.08 or 17.45. Pocinho is a small town and can be visited in about 45 minutes.
Another possibility is to go by train to Pinhao and take the ferry to the Tua RiverThis cruise covers the most beautiful stretch of the river, but you have to get up early because the boats leave from the beach at around 10:30, and if you don’t make it yet you have to wait until midday, between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. The trip lasts about two hours and can be done on a rabelo boat (a typical boat).
Pinhao is one of the most popular destinations in the area for sightseeing and touring the region’s vineyards. In addition, from this town you can take a very popular hiking route that runs 7 kilometers uphill to Casal de Loivos. From its viewing point you can enjoy spectacular views.
From Pinhao, you can also visit the Douro Museum in Peso da Régua. You can take a direct train at 9.20. Pinhao can be visited in a couple of hours. From there we take a train to Régua, where we will find the museum and we will be able to learn a little more about the traditions and history of the region. It is highly recommended. The last stop on this line is Pocinho, the heart of the vineyard region of Northern Portugal.
Discover Porto
The capital of northern Portugal certainly deserves a proper visit. Although it is a small city, the list of places to visit is long. Some of the places we cannot miss are the Sao Bento station, Bolhao Market, the old town, the City Park, the Lello Bookstore, or the Rua Galeria de París or Miguel Bombarda. A minimum of two days is not bad to leave Porto with the duties of a good tourist more than done.
For lovers of good wine, it will be a must to enjoy a few glasses of their best wines, which can be accompanied by delicious cod in its various preparations.
Source: www.eldiario.es
