Luxury bespoke holidays to Casa da Calcada, Douro Valley
Facts in brief
Official star rating 5
Location The hotel is located on the banks of the Tamega in Amarante
Annual opening All year (the hotel will be closed for refurbishment from 1 January 2023 for several months)
Closest airport Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport
Distance from airport The hotel is about 40-minutes' drive from Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport
Hotel facilities and services
Michelin-starred Restaurant, Tamega's Bar, Lounge and Games Room, and 2 Outdoor Swimming Pools (one for adults, one for children), Gardens, Spa, Bicycle Path.
Complimentary
WiFi, Guest Parking.
Land sports
Tennis, Golf, Cycling.
Out and about nearby
The Museum of Amadeo Souza-Cardoso, the Teixeira de Pascoaes Manor House, nature walks in the Serra do Marao, the Port and wine cellars in the Douro Valley, the Vinho Verde wine cellars, and the Ecotrail across the neighbouring countryside.
Sports nearby
Rafting, Canoeing, Golf, Hiking, and Walking.
Thank you. We had an amazing holiday. Really appreciate the work put in to give us the trip of a lifetime!Mrs H, Jan 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Executive double room for 3 nights
From about
£660
Holiday Code EXH1870
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to Casa da Calcada, Douro Valley
The five star Casa da Calçada in Amarante is a Relais & Chateaux property that still retains evidence of its Baroque and Neo-Classical origins. The warmth of its design has been designed to recreate the feel and ambience of a family home, where guests can return and be greeted like friends. The distinctive yellow facade contrasts the green of the vineyards and trees and the blue of the river waters around it. Inside, a very traditional feel is achieved through the plush furnishings and feature walls. Bedrooms are decorated in a thematic colour, ranging from deep purple to warm Tuscan orange, which complements the rural views from the windows. Surrounding the hotel are the lush, green one hundred year old gardens, complete with lawns and blossoming trees and flowers. Two swimming pools, one for adults and one for children, overlook the valley, river, and vineyards below, and are lined by sun loungers with parasols. Beside the pool is a small bar, which serves drinks and light snacks throughout the day, enabling you to spend long afternoons relaxing. Guests at the Casa da Calçada can enjoy the 18-hole golf course, which meanders around the trees and river, as well as a private vineyard, the wines of which can be tasted at the hotel. Tennis courts and bicycles are on-hand for active guests, and provide a new way to experience the sunshine and the fragrant landscape. In the evenings, dine in the Michelin-starred Largo do Paco Restaurant on traditional Portuguese fare in an environment that really takes you back to this remarkable building's 16th century beginnings. Stay for a few nights at the Casa da Calçada for a rewarding and magical experience of the historic Portuguese countryside. (The Casa da Calçada will be closed from 1 January 2023 for several months for refurbishment).
Room descriptions
Casa da Calçada has 30 rooms with air-conditioning, satellite television, telephone, minibar, and hair dryer.
Thank you. We had an amazing holiday. Really appreciate the work put in to give us the trip of a lifetime!Mrs H, Jan 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Executive double room for 3 nights
From about
£660
Holiday Code EXH1870
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to Casa da Calcada, Douro Valley
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to the Casa da Calcada, Expressions Holidays includes scheduled flights with British Airways from London to Oporto. The hotel is about 40 minutes’ drive from the airport and we recommend that we book a private car transfer for you, or include the use of a hire-car for the duration of your holiday.
Additional information
Children: Children 3 years of younger stay free when sharing a room with 2 adults. A cot can be provided on request free of charge. Extra beds and extra breakfasts are available at an added charge.
Thank you. We had an amazing holiday. Really appreciate the work put in to give us the trip of a lifetime!Mrs H, Jan 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Executive double room for 3 nights
From about
£660
Holiday Code EXH1870
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to Casa da Calcada, Douro Valley
About Portugal
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Portugal's countryside bursts with pretty villages, glitters with historical treasures and World Heritage sites, as well as converted mediaeval monasteries, and elegant manor houses now hosting some of the finest hotels in Europe. Though Portugal's spirit is undoubtedly rural, its big towns Porto and Lisbon are lively, magical places making full use of their waterside setting, offering rich picking for those that like to wander, with colourful waterside cafes and boutiques, leafy boulevards and old-fashioned trams still rattling through the streets. Smaller towns offer their own enchantment, with well-preserved medieval quarters that invite exploring in towns like Évora, Coimbra, Guimarães and Braga. Outside the cities, travellers can enjoy Portugal's warm sunny weather, exploring centuries-old vineyards, visiting stone villages in the mountains or soaking up rays on the magnificent southern shoreline. Dramatic scenery lies all along the coast from windswept cliffs with edge-of-the-world views to wild dune-covered beaches. More than just a static backdrop, the scenery sets the stage for outdoor adventure. Hiking, surfing, windsurfing, horse-riding, big game fishing, kayaking, diving, golfing, and mountain biking are a few ways to spend a sun-drenched afternoon. 600 miles southwest of Portugal lies the island of Madeira, home to Reid's Palace Hotel, an elegant and glamorous five star hotel in a superb location, ideal for holidays all year round, due to the mild winter climate, and on an island renowned for its beautiful vegetation.
Highlights of Lisbon
The area close to the city of Lisbon is known for its variety of attractions. Moorish architecture left over from Arabic rule can be seen in the Castelo de Sao Jorge in the Alfama. Collections of Portuguese art are on display in the Museu Gulbenkian, the Museu de Arte Antiga, and the Berardo Collection. For a taste of Portugal's maritime history, visit the Monasteiro dos Jeronimos. Sintra, the favourite haunt of Lord Byron, is home to twin-peak-top castles and royal palaces. Beautiful, golden sandy beaches can be found in Cascais to the west of Lisbon, or on the Costa da Caparica to the south; particularly idyllic are the coves between Setubal and Sesimbra. Peniche is a picturesque seaside town renowned for being one of Europe's best surfing spots. You can explore all that the area around the city of Lisbon has to offer with our Tour of the City and Countryside of the Lisboa Region.
Highlights of the Algarve
Known for having some of Portugal's most scenic beaches, the Algarve is a popular destination for those looking for a beach or water sports holiday enjoying the Portuguese sunshine. Sagres and Tavira are recognised as the best places for this. In Albufeira, Armacao de Pera, and Lagos you will find an abundance of the light-catching rocky outcrops and peaceful coves that the Algarve is so well known for. Salema, Burgau, and Sagres were once busy little fishing villages, and now still stand as testament to this important aspect of Portuguese culture. The Reserva Natural da Ria Formosa lies just off the southern coastline, the islands of which can be accessed from many towns, including Faro, Olhao, Fuseta, Cabanas, and Tavira; most of which are also ideal starting points from which to try a little surfing. White-washed and serene Alcoutim is an example of the less-developed Portuguese towns, with a hint of Andalucia in its appearance, and Loule is the perfect place to wander around a bustling market. You may also wish to visit the Roman ruins at Milreu, the Moorish town of Silves, or the Spa town of Caldas de Monchique. For outdoor pursuits, head into the Serra de Monchique Mountain Range.
Highlights of Porto and the Douro Valley
At the mouth of the Rio Douro lies Porto, an atmospheric town with a dramatic aspect and almost Parisian lifestyle. Its streets are lined with historic buildings and wine lodges serving the best of Portuguese wines. The nearby wine towns of Penafiel, Peso da Regua, Pinhao, and Amarante are also recommended for wine-tasting, but have a much more rural location. Amarante, in particular, is believed to be the most attractive wine town in the area, with a central triple-arched bridge, tall stone red-roofed houses interspersed with verdant trees, and a gently flowing river. To witness a sample of Portuguese Baroque architecture, visit the pilgrimage town of Lamego. The main attraction of this town, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedios, lies at the top of an elaborate and intricately decorated set of zig-zagged stairways that pass through archways and across viewing balconies. In Porto, some of the greatest artistic triumphs of 17th century Portugal reside, the Se Cathedral in particular, in which every inch of the columns, archways, and altar have been adorned in golden floral and religious motifs, in true Baroque style. For something even more historic, visit the Palaeolithic rock formations of Vila Nova de Foz Coa, the largest outdoor gallery of stone age remains in the world, which have since been neighboured by flourishing vineyards. Along the rocky gorges of the river, you will find a number of castle-towns, including the Medieval walled town of Trancoso and the fortress town of Almeida.
Highlights of Madeira
A green and fertile island in the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is situated off the coast of Morocco. Its coastline combines beautiful sandy beaches with rocky cliffs, the latter of which can be best appreciated at Cabo Girao. The island's capital, Funchal, is packed full with historic buildings, including 15th century churches and convents and a Se Cathedral as ornate as the one in Porto. Enjoy the relentless joviality of the street markets, or visit more peaceful attractions, such as the basalt cave of Capela de Sao Vicente or the island's protected nature reserves. Rare Laurissilva forests can be walked, trekked, or hiked through, affording guests sensational views; and the crystal clear waters off the coast can be swam through, perhaps below the water's surface so the ecosystems that live in the reefs can be appreciated. One of the greatest pleasures of Madeira, however, is wandering over the beaches, surveying the rock pools, and taking in the sights from the clifftops. Aside from the key regions that our Portuguese programme focuses on, there is much to find and see in Portugal. Those willing to drive a little further during the day will enjoy a much more diverse touring holiday.
Facts in brief
Capital LisbonAirport There are international airports at Lisbon, Porto and Faro, served by a variety of airlines from the UK, including British Airways, EasyJet, bmibaby, TAP, Jet2.
Size 35,000 sq. miles
Population 10 million