Mateus Palace

& Vila Real

On the second day of the cruise, we went from Lamego by bus to the Mateus Palace, an early-18th century manor house. It is considered one of the finest examples of Italian Baroque architecture in the country. The rooms feature furnishings from the 17th through 20th centuries. The palace consists of the main house, the gardens, a winery and a chapel.

In 1942, the founder of the Mateus Winery, with vinyards nearby, made a deal with the estate’s owner, Mateus Thane, to use the name and image of the estate for its wines. Today it is owned and operated by the Mateus Foundation and is classified as a national monument.

Following the tour of the mansion and gardens, we drove to the nearby small town of Vila Real and stopped for coffee and “Cristas de Galo”. These are delicious, crescent-shaped pastries resembling (sort of) a rooster's comb, originated by the nuns at the convent of Convent of Santa Clara for celebrations like Mardi Gras.