Portugal's Enchanting Douro Valley: Round-Trip Porto Aboard AmaSintra

Discover Portugal’s fascinating history, enchanting art and architecture, and UNESCO-listed wine heritage while sailing aboard the luxurious AmaSintra.

Uncover Portugal’s enthralling art, architecture, and UNESCO-listed wine heritage on this exclusive Douro River cruise. From the enduring Roman legacy to the Moorish-influenced azulejo tilework, medieval castles to contemporary art and architecture, expert guides will unveil the region’s best-kept secrets. At the Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves, discover contemporary masterpieces by notable artists such as Cindy Sherman and Joan Mira. Across the Spanish border, visit the UNESCO-listed city of Salamanca and explore one of the world’s oldest universities and the elegant 18th-century Plaza Mayor, one of Europe’s most beautiful town squares.

In an exclusive addition to this itinerary, join optional expert-led en plein air painting workshops. Learn the outdoor composition techniques popularized by Impressionists such as Claude Monet.

Highlights

Uncover exceptional contemporary art on a guided tour of the Álvaro Siza-designed Fundação de Serralves, an innovative art space with a world-renowned gallery and gardens.
Capture the Douro Valley’s beauty with optional guided en plein air painting workshops, moving from observation to creation in picturesque settings.
Explore the walled medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo, joining expert guides behind the scenes of this hilltop fortress, and sample regional wines and delicacies within its ancient stone walls.
Journey to the golden-hued city of Salamanca, Spain, marveling at its UNESCO-listed Old Town, 13th-century university, and expansive Plaza Mayor, a Baroque architectural gem.
Behold lavish Art Nouveau and Art Deco treasures on an expert-guided tour of Salamanca’s Museo de Art Nouveau y Art Deco, housed in a stunning 1905 mansion, marveling at works by Homar, Majorelle, Busquets, and Fabergé.
Discover the Douro Valley’s picturesque Pinhão Valley and visit a family-owned winery celebrated for its centuries-old vineyards, modern cellars, and commitment to sustainability.
Admire the ornate Baroque Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios in Lamego, ascending its 686-step staircase adorned with colorful azulejo tiles that zigzag down to the lovely gardens.
Delight in a behind-the-scenes tour and private concert at Porto’s avant-garde Casa da Música, designed by Rem Koolhaas.
Indulge in a vintage Port tasting at a historic wine cellar in Porto or savor a traditional Portuguese meal in one of the city’s stylish restaurants.
Cruise aboard the brand-new AmaSintra, featuring elegantly appointed staterooms, a panoramic lounge, sun-deck swimming pool, and gourmet dining showcasing regional flavors and Port wines.

Lecturer

Linda Wolk-Simon

Lecturer

Linda Wolk-Simon is a specialist in Italian Renaissance art. After nearly 25 years as a curator and educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, she became Head of the Drawings Department at the Morgan Library and Director of the Fairfield University Museum. Currently she is a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU. She has organized exhibitions, lectured extensively, and authored catalogues, essays, articles and reviews on Italian art, and co-authored the Met’s The Medici: Portraits and Politics. Her publication Raphael at the Metropolitan received an award for excellence from the Association of Art Museum Curators, and she was recently inducted into the National Jesuit Honor Society in recognition of her acclaimed exhibition and book, The Holy Name. Art of the Gesù.

Accommodations