Uncover the flavours of Galicia and Portugal on this eight-day Real Food Adventure. Sample tender, paprika-infused octopus in Santiago de Compostela and learn how to whip up your own Galician seafood classics in seaside Vigo. Cross the border and discover how centuries of invasion and trade have given Portuguese cuisine a mixture of Mediterranean, African Middle Eastern influences. Sip port among the terrace vineyards of Douro Valley and enjoy hearty, farm-fresh cooking at an Alentejo agriturismo. Complement your meals with cultural treats like a visit to the Roman ruins and Gothic wonder of Evora, before kicking back with Lisbon locals and a glass of ginjinha (wild cherry liqueur). Felicidades (cheers)!Highlights
Seek out the best fresh seafood in Vigo’s lively fish market, then learn to cook some classic Galician dishes for a hearty lunch.
Tour the steep terraces of the Douro Valley’s riverside vineyards and stop in at a couple of wineries to sip and swirl local varieties.
Travel inland to an agriturismo in the Alentejo region and spend the night on a local farm, complete with a hearty dinner made with fresh produce.
Get into the swing of glamorous but relaxed Lisbon by sampling local favourite ginjinha, a cherry liqueur, with the locals.
Immerse yourself in Porto’s multicultural neighbourhoods during a walking and snacking tour, starting with a flaky pastry breakfast and ending with a glass of (what else) port.
- You will visit the following places:
-
Porto
Porto (also known as Oporto in English), is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon and one of the major urban areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The urban area of Porto, which extends beyond the administrative limits of the city, has a population of 1.4 million (2011) in an area of 389 km2 (150 sq mi), making it the second-largest urban area in Portugal. Located along the Douro river estuary in Northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres, and its historical core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. The western part of its urban area extends to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Its settlement dates back many centuries, when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire. One of Portugal's internationally famous exports, port wine, is named for Porto, since the metropolitan area, and in particular the caves of Vila Nova de Gaia, were responsible for the packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. In 2014, Porto was elected The Best European Destination by the Best European Destinations Agency.
-
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela, commonly known as Santiago, is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain. The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the city's cathedral, as destination of the Way of St. James, a leading Catholic pilgrimage route originated in the 9th century. In 1985 the city's Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
-
Lisbon