Barca d'Alva

The last Portuguese village along the Douro, BARCA D’ALVA is less than 2km from the Spanish border. Overlooked by mountains on all sides, and on a placid bend in the Rio Douro, it’s a curious spot – on one hand, a long-abandoned railway line and a row of elderly cottages; on the other, a sparkling quayside with huge pontoons to accommodate the large Douro cruisers which disgorge passengers for a quick souvenir hunt. A few cafés and other places soak up any passing trade, but in the end it’s the drive here, from north or south, that really warrants the trip, through beautifully sculpted Douro terraces of olives and vines, with sweeping views across the hills and into the river gorge.