Only 1 hour journey out of Porto is the small, but attractive town of Amarante.
Set on the Rio Tâmega it is a picturesque destination with quiet streets and bars and restaurants.
The river Tâmega runs through the town and crossing this waterway is a pretty stone arched bridge, the Ponte São Gonçalo. It is reputed to have helped local heroes fend off a French attack in the early 19th century. Nowadays it is just cafes and restaurants utilizing the riverside location.
The old church and monastery in the name of Sao Gonçalo – being the Portuguese patron saint of marriage. The Lonely Planet describes him as Portugal’s St Valentine.
It has a particularly impressive carved and gilded altar in a baroque style.
The village is well known for its luscious pastries. Perhaps they are even better known for the phallic shaped pastries which are prepared for festivals
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| Amarante Phallic Pastries – picture source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sao_Goncalo_Pastries_@_Amarante.jpg |
Getting There:
There used to be a narrow gauge railway which was ‘temporarily” closed in 2009 awaiting upgrading, but when the financial crisis hit the line was formally closed in 2012.
There is a bus service and buses go just about every hour in the morning and then less often but regularly through the afternoon. Journeys take 50 minutes and cost €7.60 see http://www.rodonorte.pt/ for schedules and current prices.
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