Amarante: A Day Trip from Porto

Amarante is a lovely riverside town about an hour east of Porto, with a graceful stone bridge over the Tâmega river, a grand church, famous convent pastries and a museum dedicated to one of Portugal’s greatest modern painters. It’s an easy day trip or a stop on the way to the Douro.

Quick answer: Amarante is about 1 hour by car or bus from Porto. See the São Gonçalo bridge and church, the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso museum, the riverside, and taste the town’s convent sweets. Combine it with the Douro or Guimarães. See places to stay in Amarante.

Why go

Amarante packs a lot into a small, walkable centre. The view of the bridge, the church dome and the old houses reflected in the river is one of the prettiest in northern Portugal. Add a strong art museum, a long pastry tradition and an easy riverside, and you have a relaxed day out from Porto with far fewer crowds than the big sights.

Things to do

• The São Gonçalo bridge: the granite bridge, finished in 1790 after floods destroyed the medieval one in 1763, is the symbol of the town. In 1809, during the Peninsular War, Portuguese troops and local people held it against Napoleon’s army for about two weeks.
• The Church and Convent of São Gonçalo: named after the town’s patron saint, a matchmaker for those hoping to marry. The church, begun in the 16th century, holds the saint’s tomb. Allow 30 minutes.
• Museu Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso: in part of the old convent beside the church. The modernist painter was born in Manhufe, just outside town, in 1887 and died in 1918 at 30, after years in Paris among the leading artists of the day. The museum shows his work alongside other modern Portuguese art. Allow an hour. It’s usually closed on Mondays and public holidays.
• Pastry shops: try the convent sweets made with eggs and almonds.
• The riverside: paddle boats, terraces and gardens along the Tâmega. Walk upstream from the bridge for the classic view back to the church.
• The Ecopista do Tâmega: a greenway on the old Tâmega railway line, running almost 40km from Amarante to Arco de Baúlhe. Good for cycling or a flat walk. See cycling in Portugal.

Food

Amarante is known for its convent sweets. Look for foguetes, lérias, papos de anjo, brisas do Tâmega and the cheeky São Gonçalos, cakes shaped like a phallus, tied to the saint’s role in fertility and marriage. For lunch, the region serves hearty northern dishes such as roast meats and bacalhau, with a glass of local vinho verde.

Getting there

• By car: take the A4 east from Porto. It’s about 60km and usually takes under an hour. There are car parks near the centre.
• By bus: Rede Expressos and other coach companies run from Porto, with a journey of roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Services aren’t frequent, so check return times.
• By train: the old railway to Amarante is closed, so there’s no direct train.
• On a tour: some Douro tours include a stop in Amarante. See Douro tours.

See getting around Portugal by bus.

How long to spend

Half a day covers the main sights. A simple route: start at the bridge, visit the church and the museum, have a pastry stop, then lunch by the river. In the afternoon, walk or cycle a stretch of the Ecopista, or drive on to the Douro or Guimarães.

When to go

Spring and early autumn are best for walking and the riverside terraces. The main festival, the Festas de São Gonçalo (also called the Festas de Junho), takes place over the first weekend of June, with a procession, music and stalls. Summer can be hot inland.

Combine with

• The Douro Valley: continue east. See the Douro itinerary.
• Guimarães: about 40 minutes north. See Braga and Guimarães.
• Vinho Verde: Amarante is in the Vinho Verde region. See the vinho verde guide.

More: the best day trips from Porto and the most beautiful small towns.

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