Amarante

All visitors to Amarante will most certainly be impressed by two imposing natural features: the great Serra do Marão rising above the city in a series of majestic landscapes and the river Tâmega, the longest tributary of the river Douro, whose journey begins in Galicia and which flows through the heart of Amarante, giving added colour to the picturesque houses standing on its banks. Places to visit Church and former monastery of São Gonçalo - A majestic group of buildings standing by the river in the heart of the city. São Gonçalo Bridge - A sturdy granite bridge, built in the late eighteenth century. Museums Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Municipal Museum - Its collections enhance the memory of a visit to Amarante. Regional sweets and cakes Amarante's sweets and cakes are extremely famous and easy to find in many of the region's cake-shops and cafés. Remember some of the names and make sure to taste them for yourself: papos de anjo, brisas do Tâmega, toucinho do céu, bolos de São Gonçalo, galhofas. Festivals Festa de São Gonçalo (first Saturday in June), in honour of the saint, much sought after by old spinsters in search of a husband. Around Amarante - some suggestions No visitor to the region can afford to miss visiting the Serra do Marão in order to admire its breathtaking landscape. Roughly 20 kilometres away along the A4, travellers will find restful accommodation at the Pousada de S. Gonçalo, which has one of the most beautiful views in the whole of Portugal. Close by is the delightful valley of Ansiães, where you can visit the trout farms on the right bank of the river Ovelha, providing you with an excellent pretext for enjoying a walk through the dense woods that surround them. The village of Travanca da Serra, which is reached by the road leading to Peso da Régua, is an extremely picturesque spot, offering a magnificent panoramic view of the whole region. On fine days, you can see the mountains of Marão, Gerês and Cabreira. In the village itself, your attention is drawn to the Casa da Levada, belonging to the family of Teixeira de Pascoais and currently used for manor-house tourism. In the courtyard, notice the two enormous granite espigueiros (granaries used for drying and storing corn). At Chão de Parada, there is a well-preserved dolmen.