Vila Real is located in the north of Portugal, just 100 km from Porto.
An enchanting town nestling at 460 m above sealevel between the mountain ranges
of Serra do Marao and Serra do Alvao, mostly included in the National Park of
Alvao. The municipality spreads across a Gorge of Corgo, a tributary flowing
into the River Douro.
During the XII century, King D Dinis took measures to counter the
depopulation of the area and provided incentives for growth-thus the name Vila
Real (Royal Town) is in tribute to this benevolent sovereign.
The town is known as the capital of brasoes, coats of arms carved in stone
adorning the facades of chapels, noble homes and palaces such as the Capela dos
Clerigos, the Palacio dos Marqueses and the Casa de Mateus. The district
embraces part of the Port wine region acclaimed as the oldest denominated wine
production zone in the world. The Casa de Mateus, House of Mateus, has a
distinctive emblem and is a familiar sight to many wine drinkers throughout the
world depicted on the label of the well-renown Mateus Rose wine.