Amarante Between Culture, River and Trails

Amarante offers several perspectives to consider when planning a trip: historic churches and bridges, trails of varying lengths, and the Tâmega, which flows through the town. You can plan your stay around whether you are mainly interested in architectural history, walks and hiking routes, or the Festas de Junho. The local sights and routes can be enjoyed as experiences in their own right, rather than combined into a single itinerary.

Distinguish trails by length and landscape

The signposted Caminho de Torres stretches for about 28 kilometres in Amarante. Key sights along the Caminho in Amarante include the Ponte de São Gonçalo and the Convento de São Gonçalo. The Rota do Marancinho – PR1 offers a different kind of route: this six-kilometre circular trail starts and ends at the Igreja de Santa Maria de Gondar. It also includes a section of the old Roman road that connected Tongobriga in Marco de Canaveses with the rock sanctuary of Panóias in Vila Real via Amarante.

Two linear trails along the Tâmega are easy to distinguish by their length and which riverbank they follow. The Trilho dos Castanheiros is 3.8 kilometres long, starts in Parque Florestal de Amarante and follows the left bank of the river. The seven-kilometre Trilho das Azenhas follows the right bank of the Tâmega in Amarante. Both are considered easy. If route length matters to your plans, the shorter Castanheiros trail offers a clear comparison with the longer Azenhas trail; their location on different riverbanks is another specific point of distinction.

The Ecopista do Tâmega also has a distinct historical connection: it follows the route of the former Tâmega railway line. Its first ten-kilometre section was scheduled to open in April 2011, connecting Amarante station with the municipal boundary of Celorico de Basto. Parque Florestal de Amarante covers about five hectares and is used for recreation, sports and walks. The Trilho dos Castanheiros also starts here.

Monasteries, churches and bridges

The Convento de São Gonçalo was founded as a Dominican monastery in 1540. The Church of São Gonçalo and the cloister have been preserved. At the Varanda dos Reis are statues of D. João III (1521–1557), D. Sebastião (1557–1578), D. Henrique (1578–1580) and D. Filipe I (1581–1598); all four monarchs supported the construction of the monastery. The statues thus connect a visible detail of the building with its history of foundation.

Other churches also display distinctive architectural and artistic features. Construction of the Igreja de São João Baptista de Gatão took place during the 13th and 14th centuries. Frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries have been preserved near the triumphal arch in the nave and in the chapel. The depictions include the Crucifixion and the Coronation of the Virgin, as well as the martyrdoms of Saint Sebastian, Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Lucy. The church of the Mosteiro do Salvador de Travanca was built in the 13th century.

The Igreja dos Clérigos de São Pedro offers a different architectural emphasis: its Baroque façade is distinguished by its verticality. The church is said to have been completed in 1727; this date is inscribed on the keystone of the arch of a window opening on the main façade. Amarante is also part of the Rota do Românico. Ten monuments on this route are located within the municipality of Amarante.

One bridge brings together architectural form and historic travel routes: the Ponte de Fundo de Rua, also known as the Ponte da Aboadela, is a stone bridge over the Ovelha River with four round arches of different sizes. It was one of two crossings between Amarante and Trás-os-Montes. Camilo Castelo Branco mentions the bridge in his work.

River, festivities and culture

The Tâmega flows through Amarante, and you can walk along its banks. Canoeing is also practised on the Tâmega in Amarante. The Viola Amarantina remains associated with regional folk music and traditional gatherings on the Eiras. These themes complement the historic buildings with a living musical tradition and activities on the river.

The Festas de Junho take place on the first weekend of June in honour of São Gonçalo de Amarante; the specific dates vary from year to year. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant year before arranging your hotel stay. For group visits, the Museu Municipal Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso provides an online registration form intended exclusively for groups. As booking arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the latest information in advance.

Discover more destinations: Amarante, Ataíde, Freixo De Cima, Fregim, Carneiro, Mancelos, Padronelo, Lufrei, Vila Meã, Candemil.

For the regional travel overview: Porto.