Casa da Calçada is an exquisite Relais in the heart of Amarante along the river Tamega and with a direct view of the bridge and Cathedral of Sao Goncalo. This was originally a palace from the 16th century. The ground floor rooms for dining and sitting are beautifully appointed with art and antiques. There is an outdoor terrace and some lovely gardens. Our room was a rich red with a marvellous view of the cathedral and gardens. Staff at the desk were most helpful in giving us driving directions. It's a pity we could only stay the one night.

We had a great experience here, as the hotel upgraded us to a suite, which had a fabulous corner view through 3 giant windows out across the river to the old center of Amarante. The room decorations were very lavish (red velvet, gilded furniture, etc.) and we enjoyed the separate study and huge bathroom. Just check our photos, and you'll see not only the hotel itself, but the views of the historic village across the river, both at day and at night. Food at the restaurant was very nice, although not as top-notch as we were expecting, given the fact that it is has a Michelin star. The hotel has its own small vineyard out back on the hill, so it was nice to wander around that. We would highly recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to Amarante.

We had 2 suites with covered balconies facing the Sao Goncalo bridge/church/square. The rooms are very spacious and have walk-in closets. This property has been beautifully restored. We were greeted with a glass of Taylor's port and our car was parked away for the night. The next morning, without our prompting, the car was already brought to the entrance. This is certainly one of our favorite Relais et Chateaux properties.

Amarante is wonderful to explore by foot, and the hotel offers the best location. It is a short drive to Bom Jesus in Braga and the birthplace of Portugal in Guimaraes. It is a convenient stop between Porto and the Douro valley.

We arrived late at the hotel - gone 9.30 pm - and though having rung to give notice that we were running late, were rather worried that the restaurant may be closing...

No problem. Reaching the restaurant at just after 10, the service and food were faultless. There was no sense of being hurried - in fact on the contrary, the chef's tasting menu was both lesiurely and excellent.

We had asked for a room with a view as a suite was unavailable... and what a view. The balcony was around 30 feet by 18 overlooking the (illuminated by night) town square. Through the mist at night, it was magical... and the views further down the river during daylight perfect.

Service and surroundings throughout were charming... as is the old part of Amarante itself - just a few minutes stroll across the stone bridge immediately in front of the hotel.

Recommended.