A group of Caretos dancing during the Winter Solstice Festivities. Salsas, Tras-os-Montes. Portugal

Wooden mask used during the Winter Solstice Festivities. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

A shepherd in Tras os Montes. Portugal

Medieval traditional masks used during the Winter Festivities. Grijo de Parada, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Terraced vineyards at Ervedosa do Douro. Alto Douro, a Unesco World heritage site. Portugal

Terraced vineyards at Vale do Rio Torto, Casais do Douro. Alto Douro, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Portugal

Terraced vineyards and the Quinta da Boavista, a wine producing farm where lived and worked the famous english Baron, Joseph James Forrester, a very important Port wine producer in the 19th century. A...

A Douro river cruise ship passing along the Quinta da Boavista, a wine producing farm where lived and worked the famous english Baron, Joseph James Forrester, a very important Port wine producer in th...

The Douro river and the terraced vineyards near Folgosa do Douro, Alto Douro. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Portugal

Vale de Mendiz, a valley spreading along the road from Alijo to Pinhao, is full of vineyards to produce the world famous Port wine and the Douro wine. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Portugal

The stone pilori, symbol of municipal authority, that stands in the main square of Algoso. Tras os Montes, Portugal

Granite stones. Carrascalinho, Fornos. Lagoaca, Portugal

The granitic high plateau above the Douro river cliffs that make the border with Spain. Lagoaca, Douro Internacional Nature Park, Tras os Montes. Portugal

The Douro river cliffs that make the border with Spain. Spain in on the left side. Carrascalinho, Lagoaca, Douro Internacional Nature Park, Tras os Montes. Portugal

Walking on the granitic high plateau above the Douro river cliffs that make the border with Spain. Lagoaca, Douro Internacional Nature Park, Tras os Montes. Portugal (MR)

Chestnut tree with blossoming spring flowers. Vilar de Perdizes, Montalegre. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

A folk group (Pauliteiros de Miranda) that practice an ancient warrior Iberian dance. Traditional Winter festivities in Constantim, Miranda do Douro. Trás-os-Montes, Portugal

The Winter Solstice Festivals in Vila ChÃA? de Braciosa. The character Velha (the Old Woman) is painted black and carries a cross of burnt cork to dirty those who do not give alms. Miranda do Douro, T...

Misty and cold morning at Vila ChÃA? da Braciosa, in the International Douro Nature Park (Parque Natural do Douro Internacional). Miranda do Douro, Portugal

Bragança citadel. Portugal

Vineyards at the Vale da Vilarica along the Sabor river, Tras os Montes, Portugal

The Mother Church (Igreja Matriz) of Torre de Moncorvo, dating back to the 16th century, at dawn. Tras os Montes, Portugal

The Town Square and the Mother Church (Igreja Matriz) of Torre de Moncorvo, dating back to the 16th century. Tras os Montes, Portugal

National Paragliding Championship, Larouco Mountain, Montalegre. Tras os Montes, Portugal

On the top of Outeiro de Miranda castle, dating back to the 13th century. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal (MR)

The "carocho", the character thats "steals" the sausages of the villagers with the huge tweezers. Traditional Winter festivities in Constantim. Miranda do Douro, Tras-os-Montes. Portugal

A folk group (Pauliteiros de Miranda) that practice an ancient warrior Iberian dance. Traditional Winter festivities in Constantim. Miranda do Douro, Tras-os-Montes. Portugal

Traditional mask used during the Winter Solstice Festivities. Parada de Infancoes, Tras-os-Montes. Portugal

The castle and the 12th century medieval citadel of Braganca at dusk. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

The castle and the 12th century medieval citadel of Braganca at dusk. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

An Iron Age village, more than three thousand years old, at Sao Joao das Arribas. Parque Natural do Douro Internacional, Miranda do Douro. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

The main tower of the medieval castle of Chaves, dating back to 1258 AC. Tras os Montes, Portugal (MR)

Cavado river valley in a misty morning. Montalegre, Portugal

Bonfire made by the Caretos to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Salsas, Tras-os-Montes. Portugal

Bonfire made by the Caretos to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Salsas, Tras-os-Montes. Portugal

Bonfire made by the Caretos to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Salsas, Tras-os-Montes. Portugal

Careto with wooden mask from Lazarim, used during the Carnival and the Winter Solstice Festivities. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Wooden mask from Vila Boa used during the Winter Solstice Festivities. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Wooden mask used during the Winter Solstice Festivities. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

The Farandulo and the musicians, with bagpipes and drums, that play during all the Winter Solstice Festivities. To, Tras-os-Montes. Portugal

At the Winter Solstice Festivities in Vila Cha de Braciosa, the Velha character (the Old Woman) is painted in black and carries a stick with several pork bladders. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

The Winter Solstice Festivities in Vila Cha de Braciosa. The Velha character (the Old Woman) is painted in black and carries a cross of burnt cork. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

The castle and the 12th century medieval citadel of Braganca at dusk. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Mrs. Maria Claudina offers cakes to everybody during the traditional Winter festivities in Constantim. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Detail of the traditional costume of the folk groups called Pauliteiros de Miranda. Constantim, Tras-os-Montes. Portugal

Corn presented during the festivities of Tourem. Peneda Geres National Park, Portugal

The medieval castle of Montalegre at sunset, dating back to the 13th century. Tras os Montes, Portugal

The fog surrounding the old and traditional village of Pitoes das Junias. Peneda Geres National Park. Portugal

The old and traditional village of Pitoes das Junias. Peneda Geres National Park. Portugal

Europe, Portugal, Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Douro Valley aerial view of vineyards and vineyard terraces and the Douro (Duero) river in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Alto Douro region

Castle of Algoso from the 12th century. Tras os Montes, Portugal

The roman bridge of Chaves. Tras os Montes, Portugal

Mountains in the mist. Alturas do Barroso. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Medieval traditional masks used during the Winter Festivities. Grijo de Parada, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Marao Mountains. Alto Douro, Portugal

Medieval traditional masks used during the Winter Festivities. Grijo de Parada, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Medieval traditional masks used during the Winter Festivities. Grijo de Parada, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Medieval traditional masks used during the Winter Festivities. Grijo de Parada, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Mountains in the mist. Alturas do Barroso. Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

Mountains in the mist. Alturas do Barroso. Trás-os-Montes, Portugal

The terraced vineyards of Quinta de Ventozelo and the river Douro at Ervedosa do Douro, during the grapes harvest season. Alto Douro, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Portugal

The terraced vineyards of Quinta de Ventozelo and the river Douro at Ervedosa do Douro, during the grapes harvest season. The village of Pinhao on the right bank of the river. Alto Douro, a Unesco Wor...

Terraced vineyards at Ervedosa do Douro. Alto Douro, a Unesco World heritage site. Portugal

Terraced vineyards at Ervedosa do Douro. Alto Douro, a Unesco World heritage site. Portugal

Vilarinho dos Freires, a village on the banks of the river Tanha. Alto Douro, a Unesco World heritage site. Portugal

Oak acorns. Folgosa do Douro. Alto Douro, a Unesco World heritage site. Portugal

Terraced vineyards at Sao Joao de Lobrigos, Alto Douro, a Unesco World heritage site. Portugal

A Douro river cruise ship passing along the village of Pinhao. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Portugal

A Douro river tour ship passing along the Quinta do Bomfim, Pinhao. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Portugal

A Douro river tour ship passing along the Quinta do Bomfim, Pinhao. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Portugal

Terraced vineyards at Vale do Rio Torto, Casais do Douro. Alto Douro, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Portugal

Terraced vineyards at Vale do Rio Torto, Casais do Douro. Alto Douro, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Portugal

Terraced vineyards and the Quinta da Boavista, a wine producing farm where lived and worked the famous english Baron, Joseph James Forrester, a very important Port wine producer in the 19th century. A...

A Douro river cruise ship passing along the Quinta da Boavista, a wine producing farm where lived and worked the famous english Baron, Joseph James Forrester, a very important Port wine producer in th...

River Tedo, a tributary of the Douro river, and Quinta do Tedo with the terraced vineyards. Alto Douro, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Portugal