Private Tour to Lamego and Viseu, the Dão wine region

The metal bridge was built by King D. Luís I at the end of the 19th century to cross the Douro River by road and was deactivated in the mid-20th century due to the state of degradation of the wooden deck.

On this date, rehabilitation works were carried out on the bridge in an urban and landscape context, which gave it a more appropriate use due to its original characteristics.

This bridge thus became part of the network of footpaths along the Douro.

Also known as the Régua road bridge, it was built in 1934 by the Companhia Nacional de Caminhos de Ferro to connect Peso da Régua and Lamego. As the works were not completed for rail use, the bridge was adapted for road use.

This bridge stands out for its masonry construction, unlike the bridges of the time that were built in iron.

Classified as a National Monument in 1910, Lamego Castle began to be built in the 12th century, under Portuguese rule.

In the 19th century, after its military function fell into disuse, it underwent restoration work.

This castle was built on a site previously occupied by a Lusitanian fort. It was later occupied by the Visigoths between the 5th and the 7th century and, from the 18th century onwards, the village came under Muslim rule until the time of the Christian Reconquest.

It is a medieval mountain castle, surrounded by a walled perimeter all around, with an irregular plan that adapts to the morphology of the terrain and is at an altitude of 543 meters above sea level.

It has a keep where the Municipal Palaces were located in the 16th and 17th centuries and the largest cistern in Portugal - known until now in the country - which is topped off by a powerful vaulted structure supported by thick pillars, giving the idea of a great cathedral in the depths of the earth.

Lamego Cathedral dates from the 12th century, probably built by D. Afonso Henriques. In the meantime, it was the subject of several other reconstructions, namely in the 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, which will significantly alter its original Romanesque profile.

Nothing remains from the time of D. Afonso Henriques, and the main façade built in the early 16th century by the architect João Lopes is worthy of mention, which combines the flamboyant Gothic forms and the emergence of some Renaissance forms.

The ceilings inside the cathedral were painted, in the first half of the 18th century, by the Italian painter-architect Nicolau Nasoni, with an architectural theme framing episodes from the Bible.

Inside the Cathedral, it is possible to visit the beautiful 16th century cloister and two magnificent Chapels from the same period.

Ex Libris of the City of Lamego and Property of Public Interest, this sanctuary is one of the most incredible in Portugal.

What stands out the most is its beautiful staircase with 686 steps, which takes us to the church located at the top of the mountain.

Built in the 18th century to replace the chapel built in the 14th century, this church is a version of the famous Bom Jesus church in Braga.

Its staircase is fully decorated and fountains, chapels, obelisks and other monuments were built on the flights.

Nicolau Nasoni also left his mark with the design of some of the works that can be found here, with special emphasis on a granite fountain built next to the sanctuary.

With the large towers that give it the appearance of a fortified church located on a promontory, the grandeur of this cathedral is a point of reference for the city, even when seen from a distance. It is also one of its oldest buildings.

It was built on the site of a primitive temple from the Suevo-Visigothic era, whose structure has recently been revealed by archaeological excavations.

It began to take shape in the 12th century, with the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, and underwent a profound renovation in the 13th century, during the reign of D. Dinis. The works lasted for many years and the set includes elements from different periods.

Guided tour of the Palace of the Counts of Anadia: A historic building built in the 18th century and was originally the residence of the Counts of Anadia, a noble Portuguese family. The palace features a Baroque-style façade with intricate carvings and decorations. The interior is equally grand, with ornate ceilings, frescoes and furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The palace also has a chapel dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. Optional (€15 p/person)

Optional - Guided Tour to Casa do Santar: A historic wine estate located in the Dão wine region, in Portugal. The property dates back to the 16th century and is renowned for its production of high quality wines, particularly the Dão red wines made from the local Touriga Nacional grape variety. The property includes a 17th century mansion, a chapel and a vineyard. Visitors can tour the estate, learn about the history of winemaking in the region, and taste Casa de Santar's award-winning wines. Optional (25 € p/person)

Optional - The Grão Vasco National Museum is located in the historic center of Viseu, in the former bishops' palace, from the 16th century, next to the cathedral.

The Museum's main collection consists of a remarkable set of altarpiece paintings, from the Cathedral, churches in the region and deposits in other museums, by Vasco Fernandes (c. 1475-1542), Grão Vasco, by collaborators and contemporaries.

The collection also includes objects and figurative supports originally intended for liturgical practices (painting, sculpture, goldsmithery and ivory, from the Romanesque to the Baroque), mostly from the Cathedral and churches in the region, to which are added archeology pieces, an important collection of paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, examples of Portuguese earthenware, jewellery, oriental porcelain, numismatics and furniture.

Optional - In addition to serving as the headquarters of the Regional Wine Commission, the former episcopal palace is also the reception center for visitors to the Dão Wine Route.

This means, as you can guess, that it plays the role of a tourist information office. But it is, at the same time, a small (albeit well equipped) wine cellar with wines from the farms that make up the route and eight highlighted references for free tasting or at a symbolic price.

At the counter, in addition to leaflets and information about the wines, care is also taken to know how to inform the visitor about the addresses in the city where wine is given the treatment it deserves, which makes the Solar a great starting point to taste the wine. They give you a glass.

As in everything, and the subject of wines, complex as it is, is no exception, it is important to know where to start.