Why move to North Portugal
Wild and wonderful, northern Portugal is the birthplace of the country and home to the famous port wine region. Its rugged landscapes have created bewitching national parks and dramatic beaches.
Northern Portugal consists of five districts; Porto, Braga, Vila Real, Bragança and Viana do Castelo. Within its boundaries lie many of the oldest cities and towns in Portugal and the beautiful rivers, mountains and beaches of vast national parks. The north is also host to the world famous UNESCO World Heritage site and oldest demarcated wine-growing region in the world: the Douro Valley. Here, port wine is made by the barrel-load in quintas (wine estates) and shipped all over the globe.
Porto (the city) is the capital of the North region and the second biggest city in Portugal. Its maze-like streets are thick with picturesque, historical buildings, many dating back to the city’s mediaeval birth. Six magnificent bridges across the mouth of the Douro River, and outdoor cafes, bars and restaurants line the riverfront where you can pause to take in the spectacular views. Among the cathedrals and churches, shops, museums, galleries, hotels and parks are crammed. Trams link the city and the coast, making a getaway to the beach trouble-free, and ships cruise upriver towards the Douro Valley. If airy apartments in converted townhouses or vast modern villas are your idea of city-living heaven, then Porto is inexpensive, rich in culture and international in feel.
Other unique towns include Viana do Castelo, a town with a shipbuilding past and glorious beaches. Or how about Guimaraes? A gothic fantasy that was home to the first King of Portugal. Or Ponte de Lima – a quaint mediaeval town oozing Catholic charm, or Braga, often called the ‘Rome of Portugal’ due to the sheer number of religious buildings within its walls.
If you are drawn to nature, then you will be spoiled for choice with the national parks. Peneda-Geres is a protected region on the north-west boundary. It encompasses small village communities, vast swathes of rocky heath, and a forest of holly trees. It is the undulating meeting point of several mountain ranges where streams trickle downwards into waterfalls and rivers. The Montesinho National park is justifiably famous for its biodiversity and beautiful landscape. It’s home to animals like the Iberian wolf, lynx and common genet. The Douro International Park crosses over into Spain and features nail-biting cliff edges overlooking a deep ravine through which the river has eroded its way over many centuries.
The remarkable Douro Valley also stretches alongside the calmer parts of the river. Around its twists and turns, the river carries valuable mineral deposits to the vineyards that splice steps up into the surrounding hillsides. You can either take in the vistas created by the thirsty vines working in harmony with the terrain by boat or visit the vineyards overland and combine the views with tastings and tours.
The beaches along the northern stretch of Portugal are a mixture of hidden coves and dunes. They don’t tend to sustain beachside hospitality, and they’re often quiet, so are great for rock-pooling, exploring, coastal walks and paddling. If you want to live by the coast, small towns and villages offer fantastic welcoming communities with homes ranging from farms to modern apartments.
