Useful information

Location

Vila Real is located in the north of Portugal, just 100 kms far from Porto, and is an enchanting town nestling at 460 metres above sea-level between the mountain ranges of Serra do Marão and Serra do Alvão (mostly included in the National Park of Alvão - www.). The municipality spreads across a gorge of the Corgo, a tributary flowing to the river Douro. It's a lively community with 13,000 residents and 6000 students.

During the XII century, King D. Dinis took measures to counter the depopulation of the area and provided incentives for its growth-thus the name Vila Real (Royal Town), in tribute to this benevolent sovereign.

The town is called the capital of brasões, coats of arms carved in stone adorning the facades of chapels, noble homes and palaces such as the Capela dos Clérigos, the Palácio dos Marqueses and the Casa de Mateus. Its district embraces part of the Port wine region, acclaimed as the oldest denominated wine production zone in the world. In fact, the Casa de Mateus (House of Mateus) is a distinctive emblem of the area and familiar sight to many wine drinkers throughout the world-it is pictured on the wine label of that well-renown drink, Mateus Rosé.

Map of Portugal: http://cnn.net/TRAVEL/CITY.GUIDES/WORLD/Europe/portugal/map.html

Much information and several very useful connections on:

http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/
http://www.adeturn.pt/ing/ing.htm
http://www.twins-inter.net/#

Check the page http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/geninfo.html for hints and very useful info.

The weather is usually fair in October, but at night it may be a little chilly. Depending on the years it may be the final period of the vindimas when grapes are harvested. For a weather forecast: http://www.weather.com

Gastronomy: http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/geninfo.html

More on hotels (if you intend to stay more in Portugal): http://www.hotelstravel.com/portugal.html

http://www.nervo.com/pt/ Portugal for travelers
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/4118/ Discover Portugal
http://www.well.com/user/ideamen/portugal.html A collection of pages about Portugal
http://shiva.di.uminho.pt/~esteves/turismo/portugal-ing.html Portugal Touristic guide

For those interested, Porto in European Capital of Culture in 2001. There are many cultural events you may be interested in: http://www.porto2001.pt

Meeting Venue

UTAD was founded in March 1986, incorporating its precursor, the Instituto Universitário de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro.
It has 6000 students that, with teaching, research and support staff, are a dynamic force in Vila Real and region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro.

http://home.utad.pt/utad.html (the UTAD Web site is under a major change process)

The University offers 24 degree courses in different areas and 20 Master or Post-graduation courses. The Engineering Department is recent and offers three degree courses (Civil Engineering, Electronic Engineering and Mechanical Engineering) and a master course (on Engineering Technology).

Transportation

Vila Real is on the IP4 from Porto to Bragança (A4 from Porto to Amarante and IP4 from Amarante to Vila Real and further on to Bragança). A small local railway runs to Régua, which lies on the Douro line from Porto (this line runs along Douro river most of the time). There is also a small airport with flights to and from Lisbon.

Trains

From Porto to Vila Real you have to change trains at Régua. If you come from Lisbon you have to change trains at Porto and at Régua.
Railroad map: http://www.cp.pt/servicos/e_mapa.html
Train timetable: http://www.cp.pt/horarios/e_horarios.html

Buses

There are several ways to reach Vila Real by bus. The two Bus Companies with better connections from Lisbon and Porto to Vila Real are Rodonorte Expresso Company and Rede Expressos Company.
For timetables and prices please check: http://www.rodonorte.pt/
From Porto to Vila Real look for the line Porto-Amarante-Vila Real (via A4)
From Lisbon to Vila Real look for the lines Lisboa-Vila Real-Chaves (via Porto) or Lisboa-Vila Real-Chaves (via Viseu)
http://www.rede-expressos.pt/index_uk.htm

Planes

There are three major airports in Portugal: Lisboa, Porto in the north and Faro in the south.
For more information: http://www.ana-aeroportos.pt/eng/index.htm
Vila real has a small airfield with flights to and from Lisbon provided by Omni Airlines: www.omni.pt/lx_brmain.html

From September 3 to October 26 the timetable is as follows:

There are only flights from Monday to Friday. From October 29 the timetable changes (please check Web Site).
The price is 9 000 PTE - 40USD approx. (one way) or 16 000 PTE - 75 USD approx.(two way)

Car

From Porto take the A4 highway (Porto-Amarante) and then the IP4 (to Vila Real)
From Lisbon take the A1 to Porto and then the A4 and IP4
For more information: http://www.brisa.pt/
If you want to rent a car, there are several local rent-a-car companies, but you may want a worldwide company such as Avis:
http://www.avis.com/cgi-bin/rental_locations/ris/displayregions.cgi

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