TOUR DESCRIPTION
GETTING YOUR BEARINGS
Just at 22 km from the border with the Spanish province of Zamora, Bragança is the right place to discover the authentic ancestral Portugal.
The town is located in the region of Tras-os-Montes, an austere land, cradle of traditions, rites and ancient festivals, such as those of the “caretos” or masked figures, linked to the winter-time celebrations.
OUR TOUR
This visit is an occasion to discover a remarkable historical heritage:
– the Vila or citadel, on a steep hill, surrounded by walls, with traditional alleys and houses in a Medieval setting
– the 12th century castle, a Military Museum today, with an imposing 34-meter-high keep
– the Domus Municipalis, the former meeting place of the council. It is a beautiful Romanesque building, unique in the Iberian Peninsula
– the Sé Velha (old cathedral), San Vicente, Santa María and other churches full of Portuguese Baroque charm: white and blue tile panels covering the walls, painted wooden vaults and extremely decorated main chapels presided over by staggered thrones, as symbolic staircases to heaven
– the old Jewish quarter, a community which had an extreme importance for centuries. The tour goes past the modern Sephardic Culture Interpretation Center, that recalls this historic heritage.
– the Abade de Baçal museum, in the old bishop’s palace, with a valuable collection of fine arts, archeology and ethnography.
A part of the tour follows an urban hiking trail that provides amazing panoramic views of the Montesinho Natural Park, which surrounds the city to the north and west. Montesinho park is an outstanding reserve of wildlife: mountains, forests, streams and Iberian fauna (wolves, wild boars, eagles, roe deer, lynx, genets, otters). The path goes alongside the small Fervença river, wedged between granite rocks, into small waterfalls and old watermills on its banks.
The price includes a small pastry tasting, something in which the Portuguese are second to none.
The price does not include the admission fee to the Abade de Baçal Museum.
As a complement, we suggest you visiting Rio de Onor, a small border village, half Portuguese, half Spanish, at 26 km from Bragança, located in the heart of Montesinho Natural Park. In addition to its natural beauty, Rio de Onor displays an array of ethnographic treasures, the testimony to an ancestral lifestyle, where houses are fully built and covered in slate. Three languages are spoken here: Portuguese, Spanish and a local dialect, a dialect of the Leonese language that has been spoken in the Iberian Peninsula, from the coast of Asturias until the northeast of Portugal since the Middle Ages.
The transfer to Rio de Onor has to be made in your own vehicles.
DURATION
- 3h (only Bragança)
- 4h 30’ (Bragança and Rio de Onor)
In this experience...
| What will we do |
|
| More details | Medieval site and natural heritage |
| Included | Tasting of Portuguese sweets |
Prepare yourself...
TIPS
Bragança is a paradise for foodies: “bísaro” pork meat (a local breed of Celtic origin), the “alheira” (a chicken sausage of Jewish origin), high-quality olive oils and, of course, endless recipes of codfish, as well as Portuguese-style mouth-watering cakes, filled and covered with cream or nuts.
DID YOU KNOW…
The Portuguese claim Bragança is a symbol of their national identity. It is the cradle of the Bragança dynasty: the most powerful house in the kingdom, which occupied the crown from 1640 (putting an end to the union with Spain) until the setting of the Republic in 1910.
| Meeting point | |
| Important information | The price of the tickets to the monuments is not included in the visit. This is a generic proposal for groups, which we can adapt to your interest and needs We recommend
|
BOOK YOUR TOUR
This activity requires a prior booking. Please complete the following form. As soon as the availability is checked, we will confirm your booking and inform about the payment proceedings.
Additional information
| Duration | 3h, 4h 30min |
|---|---|
| Location | Bragança |
TOUR DESCRIPTION
GETTING YOUR BEARINGS
Just at 22 km from the border with the Spanish province of Zamora, Bragança is the right place to discover the authentic ancestral Portugal.
The town is located in the region of Tras-os-Montes, an austere land, cradle of traditions, rites and ancient festivals, such as those of the “caretos” or masked figures, linked to the winter-time celebrations.
OUR TOUR
This visit is an occasion to discover a remarkable historical heritage:
– the Vila or citadel, on a steep hill, surrounded by walls, with traditional alleys and houses in a Medieval setting
– the 12th century castle, a Military Museum today, with an imposing 34-meter-high keep
– the Domus Municipalis, the former meeting place of the council. It is a beautiful Romanesque building, unique in the Iberian Peninsula
– the Sé Velha (old cathedral), San Vicente, Santa María and other churches full of Portuguese Baroque charm: white and blue tile panels covering the walls, painted wooden vaults and extremely decorated main chapels presided over by staggered thrones, as symbolic staircases to heaven
– the old Jewish quarter, a community which had an extreme importance for centuries. The tour goes past the modern Sephardic Culture Interpretation Center, that recalls this historic heritage.
– the Abade de Baçal museum, in the old bishop’s palace, with a valuable collection of fine arts, archeology and ethnography.
A part of the tour follows an urban hiking trail that provides amazing panoramic views of the Montesinho Natural Park, which surrounds the city to the north and west. Montesinho park is an outstanding reserve of wildlife: mountains, forests, streams and Iberian fauna (wolves, wild boars, eagles, roe deer, lynx, genets, otters). The path goes alongside the small Fervença river, wedged between granite rocks, into small waterfalls and old watermills on its banks.
The price includes a small pastry tasting, something in which the Portuguese are second to none.
The price does not include the admission fee to the Abade de Baçal Museum.
As a complement, we suggest you visiting Rio de Onor, a small border village, half Portuguese, half Spanish, at 26 km from Bragança, located in the heart of Montesinho Natural Park. In addition to its natural beauty, Rio de Onor displays an array of ethnographic treasures, the testimony to an ancestral lifestyle, where houses are fully built and covered in slate. Three languages are spoken here: Portuguese, Spanish and a local dialect, a dialect of the Leonese language that has been spoken in the Iberian Peninsula, from the coast of Asturias until the northeast of Portugal since the Middle Ages.
The transfer to Rio de Onor has to be made in your own vehicles.
DURATION
- 3h (only Bragança)
- 4h 30’ (Bragança and Rio de Onor)
In this experience...
| What will we do |
|
| More details | Medieval site and natural heritage |
| Included | Tasting of Portuguese sweets |
Prepare yourself...
TIPS
Bragança is a paradise for foodies: “bísaro” pork meat (a local breed of Celtic origin), the “alheira” (a chicken sausage of Jewish origin), high-quality olive oils and, of course, endless recipes of codfish, as well as Portuguese-style mouth-watering cakes, filled and covered with cream or nuts.
DID YOU KNOW…
The Portuguese claim Bragança is a symbol of their national identity. It is the cradle of the Bragança dynasty: the most powerful house in the kingdom, which occupied the crown from 1640 (putting an end to the union with Spain) until the setting of the Republic in 1910.
| Meeting point | |
| Important information | The price of the tickets to the monuments is not included in the visit. This is a generic proposal for groups, which we can adapt to your interest and needs We recommend
|
BOOK YOUR TOUR
This activity requires a prior booking. Please complete the following form. As soon as the availability is checked, we will confirm your booking and inform about the payment proceedings.
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