Vila Real, Portugal

The gateway to Trás-os-Montes, VILA REAL is a lively little spot with an invitingly laid-back atmosphere and some surprisingly sophisticated shopping. It also makes a great base for exploration of the nearby Parque Natural do Alvão, a mountainous park containing an impressive variety of flora and fauna. The town is set on a high spur above the deep valley of the Rio Corgo, a tributary of the Douro. The name means "Royal Town" and, as home to the largest concentration of nobility outside Lisbon, it was once very apt, although today it has more of an industrial role, as well as being the home of the University of Trás-os-Montes.