The Douro Valley is best experienced by combining a few set-piece visits with a lot of slow looking. Peso da Régua's Museu do Douro is the single best introduction to the region's wine history. From there, take the train or river up to Pinhão for the famous tile panels in the station, and visit one of the quintas — Quinta do Seixo and Quinta do Bomfim are among the most accessible to drop-in visitors. Mateus Palace, outside Vila Real, is the Baroque palace from the wine bottle label and is well worth the detour. South of the river, Lamego's hilltop Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios with its long stone staircase is one of Portugal's most photographed religious sites.