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Costa Verde

The Costa Verde occupies the north-west corner of Portugal. Valleys, hills and mountains are all in endless shades of green. The region's famous, sparkling wine is also green (Vinho Verde), but only in figurative sense. Bordered by Spain is Portugal's only official national park, the Peneda-Gerês. 

Porto, at the river Douro's mouth, is the region's major city, and also Portugal's second-largest. Porto is an old Roman town, originally two towns; Portus and Cale. In the 800 century the two towns became one; Portucale, which later gave it's name to the country. Porto was the birthplace of Prince Henry the Navigator. It's also the hometown of the famous Port wine. The port wine lodges in the suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia provides tours with free tastings. 

Barcelos, north of Porto, is famous for its ceramics and the legend of The Rooster. The country market which is held every Thursday is Portugal's biggest and best. You'll find breads,  cakes and other baked goods, fresh produce (everything from potatoes to poultry), farm and wine-making equipment, and lace tablecloths, fancifully painted brown pottery and joyfully decorated ceramic roosters. 
 
 
 Other towns and villages in the Costa Verde: 

 Guimarães (where the nation was born), Vila do Conde (a quiet fishing resort with famous traditional crafts), Ofir (sandy beach and pinewoods), Monção, Braga (12th-century cathedral), Viana do Castelo (at the river Minho's mouth. Renaissance  and Manuelino architecture, ceramics, embroidery, jewellery and filigree) and Valença(a 13th-century border town). 
Good beaches are found between Espinho and the river Minho.