The source of the River Douro is actually in the highlands of Northern Spain. From here, it flows into Portugal, where in the Upper Douro Valley it is navigable to luxury river ships like the superb A-ROSA ALVA. In Spain, the main attraction is a visit to the ancient university city of Salamanca, but in Portugal the scenery goes off the scale as you sail gently past the rolling hillsides of vines and agriculture. Douro wines and ports are now famous around the world. It is the elevated position of the hills where the vines grow that make the distinctive flavours you will enjoy on your cruise. We stop at pretty villages, visit Quintas and admire the local architecture. The ancient churches are a delight as are the stories of bygone monarchies that once ruled here. And finally, the city of Porto at the mouth of the Duoro with its UNESCO World Heritage centre, port cellars and fabulous relaxed ambiance - the perfect place to start and end your Douro River experience.