The surrounding of Quinta
Gestaco lies in the northern part of Portugal, 85 kilometers to the east of Porto. Good roads and an hour by car from the airport. The village lies in the province of Baiao, a mountainous area with forests and nature reserves. If you are looking for an exciting nightlife this is not the place to be.
Peace and nature In the early morning you will not be woken up by your alarm clock or mobile phone alarm, but by all the birds in nature: owls, woodpeckers, canaries, redstarts, hoopoes, blackcaps and birds of prey. A true paradise for the bird watcher! In May 2011 there was a butterfly connoisseur here, he went to investigate here to see what is fluttering around here. And came to a nice score list of species for the month of May. Species that appeal to the imagination in the Netherlands can be seen here. Such as the pasha, imperial mantle, king’s page and the queen’s webpage, but also many other small butterflies can be admired with us, such as the tiger blue, reseda white, large fox, argus butterfly and many others. If you are a true butterfly connoisseur, bring a good butterfly book (Tirion’s new butterfly guide). Success assured …. From the estate you have a view of the village of Mesão Frio, where shops, 6 restaurants, 3 banks and 2 supermarkets can be found. This is + 4 km from the campsite. No major tourist attractions, but normal life as it takes place there. In Mesão Frio you will find a lovely and clean public swimming pool and a natural stream with a local picnic area where you can also relax. Clean, fresh mountain water flows directly into the stream! There is a local market here on Fridays, including fresh fish, poultry, vegetables and clothing.
All in all, we live in a hyper-nervous society, we need more ’empty’ time.
The Douro valley The Douro valley is 4 kilometers away, a beautiful route to discover the area. The Douro valley is known for its fine wines and Port. Have you ever drunk the famous ‘green wine’, vinho verde? To get a good idea of the wine region, you can follow a special car route with the route signs “‘Rota dos Vinhos'” and the famous port route. Early autumn is the best time for a tour of the Douro. The pickers sing during the work and celebrate a successful harvest. All in all, a great region full of vineyards and prosperous quintas, all dedicated to wine and port. Many quintas offer a guided tour.
Pilgrimage site Lamego and Braga From Gestaço you can take a trip to Lamego, a pilgrimage site. It is known for its sanctuary with 2 towers built in Baroque style, with a staircase of more than 600 steps. Another pilgrimage city is Braga. This city is also known for the beautiful football stadium, built between the rocks, overlooking the city. The football fans will still recognize it from the E.K. 2004 held in Portugal. Or you drive, by train or car to Porto, which lies at the mouth of the Douro, with a historic quay with port houses. Known for its double bridge and beautiful shopping streets. A very lively city. Are you a port lover? Then go to Peso da Regua. Various boat trips go from here to the beautiful port houses in the area. The romantic city of Amarante Amarante, approx. 25 km from the estate, is a very romantic town on the banks of the Tamega, with a beautiful Roman bridge. There is also a beach there. Or you can go to one of the smaller villages in the area… You don’t have to get bored here!
