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made famous after the building was used on the Mateus Rosé wine labels. One of the most popular wines exported from Portugal in the 1980s, Mateus Rosé was developed especially for the British and American palate. Since then, its popularity has declined as consumers' tastes have become more sophisticated. e palace itself was home to the last Count of Vila Real and is open to the public to view its collection of furniture, crockery, paintings and books from the 16th century onward. e library has a rare edition of Os Lusíadas by Luíz Vaz de Camões, considered the most famous Portuguese-language poet. After strolling around the lake in front of the gardens, the next stop was at a local quinta for wine tasting. Castelo Rodrigo is a medieval fortress town perched on a hilltop that contains the ruins of a castle. e town was a thriving centre for commerce in medieval times, and for centuries the castle protected the land from the Moors and the Spanish. Following a period of Spanish control, the locals burned down the castle when Portugal gained its independence in 1640, and it was never rebuilt. e town has an interesting history. It enjoyed two centuries of peaceful coexistence between the Jewish and Christian populations until the Spanish Inquisition decimated the Jews. Many Jews chose to become Christians to avoid persecution but continued to practice their true religion behind closed doors. Surrounding the town are fields of almond trees, and you can buy almond-based products including liqueur. e town dominates the surrounding landscape and there are amazing views to enjoy all around the castle. e population is greatly reduced, with only a few families remaining, but walking around the peaceful streets gives a sense of the importance and grandeur of the town's glory days. e day trip to Salamanca was filled with great experiences. e first stop was the covered market near Plaza Mayor, where different stalls offered a fantastic array of fresh fish, meat and vegetables. e tour finished with a visit to a tapas stall, where we sampled squid, cheese, olives and chorizo washed down with a fruity white wine. ere was much to explore around the town, including two cathedrals and the Art Nouveau and Art Deco This page, from top: The stately Mateus Palace, home to the last Count of Vila Real; the 19th-century Rua Augusta Arch 72 VIKING