<strong>The Presidential: </strong>Europe's "newest" luxury train, The Presidential uses renovated carriages built for Portugal's royal family 127 years ago.
The Presidential: Europe's "newest" luxury train, The Presidential uses renovated carriages built for Portugal's royal family 127 years ago.
courtesy The Presidential Train
<strong>Gourmet excursion: </strong>The Presidential journey is a nine-hour gourmet excursion -- featuring different celeb chefs -- through Portugal's beautiful Douro Valley wine region.
Gourmet excursion: The Presidential journey is a nine-hour gourmet excursion -- featuring different celeb chefs -- through Portugal's beautiful Douro Valley wine region.
courtesy The Presidential Train
<strong>The revival: </strong>The train had been retired to Portugal's railway museum before businessman Gonçalo Castel-Branco fell in love with it and decided to bring it back to life.
The revival: The train had been retired to Portugal's railway museum before businessman Gonçalo Castel-Branco fell in love with it and decided to bring it back to life.
courtesy The Presidential Train
<strong>Retro glamor: </strong>Lovingly recreated are the presidential, ministerial and press carriages filled with soft, velvety seating, as well as a bar wagon and two restaurant cars featuring wood paneling and white linens.
Retro glamor: Lovingly recreated are the presidential, ministerial and press carriages filled with soft, velvety seating, as well as a bar wagon and two restaurant cars featuring wood paneling and white linens.
courtesy The Presidential Train
<strong>Colorful past: </strong>The train served Portugal's royal family before the monarchy was toppled in 1910. It rode on under the republic, serving the country's presidents until the 1970s. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was a guest during her visit in 1957.
Colorful past: The train served Portugal's royal family before the monarchy was toppled in 1910. It rode on under the republic, serving the country's presidents until the 1970s. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was a guest during her visit in 1957.
courtesy The Presidential Train
<strong>Diesel locomotive: </strong>These days the train is pulled by a chunky 1960s diesel locomotive, resplendent in glossy blue with scarlet and white trim, rather than the steam engine that powered Portugal's 19th-century monarchs.
Diesel locomotive: These days the train is pulled by a chunky 1960s diesel locomotive, resplendent in glossy blue with scarlet and white trim, rather than the steam engine that powered Portugal's 19th-century monarchs.
Paul Ames
<strong>Easy pace: </strong>The train doesn't like to be hurried. It has a top speed of 80 kph (50 mph).
Easy pace: The train doesn't like to be hurried. It has a top speed of 80 kph (50 mph).
courtesy The Presidential Train
<strong>Views of the river: </strong>The train hugs the riverbank for most of the journey. Each curve reveals a different breath-stopping sight. Quinta do Vesuvio, a romantic mansion bounded by vines, citrus groves and palm trees, is one of the stops.
Views of the river: The train hugs the riverbank for most of the journey. Each curve reveals a different breath-stopping sight. Quinta do Vesuvio, a romantic mansion bounded by vines, citrus groves and palm trees, is one of the stops.
courtesy Quinta do Vesuvio
<strong>Floral flavors:</strong> Dishes on one outing included a flower-covered mackerel filet with apple and ramsons.
Floral flavors: Dishes on one outing included a flower-covered mackerel filet with apple and ramsons.
Paul Ames
<strong>Seasonal service: </strong>Climatic extremes -- temperatures regularly top 40 C (104 F) in summer, frost is common in winter -- explain why the train journeys are limited to the verdant spring and harvest time when the vines turn amber and crimson.
Seasonal service: Climatic extremes -- temperatures regularly top 40 C (104 F) in summer, frost is common in winter -- explain why the train journeys are limited to the verdant spring and harvest time when the vines turn amber and crimson.
Paul Ames
<strong>World-beating wine region: </strong>The Douro has been a protected wine region since the 18th century, producing the raw material for fortified ports and, increasingly, world-beating red and white table wines.
World-beating wine region: The Douro has been a protected wine region since the 18th century, producing the raw material for fortified ports and, increasingly, world-beating red and white table wines.
Paul Ames
<strong>Pedro Lemos: </strong>Pedro Lemos, a Michelin-star chef, is next on the lineup. His eponymous restaurant serves innovative northern Portuguese cuisine.
Pedro Lemos: Pedro Lemos, a Michelin-star chef, is next on the lineup. His eponymous restaurant serves innovative northern Portuguese cuisine.
courtesy Pedro Lemos restaurante
<strong>João Rodriques: </strong>João Rodriques, of Lisbon's Feitoria restaurant, is on track to wrap up for the remaining spring 2017 trips, but Castel-Branco has yet to reveal the fall lineup. All the meals are paired with prize-winning Douro wines.
João Rodriques: João Rodriques, of Lisbon's Feitoria restaurant, is on track to wrap up for the remaining spring 2017 trips, but Castel-Branco has yet to reveal the fall lineup. All the meals are paired with prize-winning Douro wines.
courtesy Feitoria restaurant/Altis Belem