Penafiel is a town in the Douro region of Portugal. Several historic churches in the municipality are listed as national monuments.
Penafiel, located among the hills, valleys, and rivers of Portugal’s Norte Region, is a mid-sized town with a surprising number of things to do. This is a landscape that must be explored on two feet or two wheels, with a big dose of history and culture thrown in for good measure.
You may walk the streets of a pre-Roman city or follow a Romanesque route that includes churches erected before Portugal became a nation. And the environment is stunning, with hues of green ranging from the lush banks of the Douro and Sousa Rivers to the idyllic vineyards and pine forest that cover every slope.
Let’s explore things to do and see in Penafiel
- Santuário do Sameiro
A hill rising east of town has been made into a park and is topped with a 19th-century sanctuary.
The cathedral has a fantasy atmosphere, and its huge white dome may remind you of the Sacré-Cour in Paris.
The park, with coniferous woods on its slopes, ushers you to exquisite formal gardens at the stairs below the church.
Admire the view of Penafiel and its outlying towns against the towering, woody hills from the highest platform.
- Jardim do Calvário de Penafiel
Jardim Egas Moniz, after Afonso Henriques’ preceptor, is another name for this garden.
There’s a bust of him here with a rope around his neck, which refers to a tale about Moniz travelling to Toledo in Spain with a rope carrying a boulder as a sign of allegiance to Alfonso VII of León.
If the park has a refined feel, it is because it was where Penafiel’s upper social strata would go to unwind around the turn of the twentieth century.
The wrought-iron gazebo and lofty century-old trees are relics of a bygone era.
- Castro de Monte Mozinho
“Castros” are Bronze or Iron Age hilltop settlements in northern Portugal.
Many of them were rediscovered in the twentieth century when complex systems of dwellings and defences were discovered.
Many were also occupied far into the Roman period, including Monte Mozinho, which is located more than 400 metres above sea level.
This Castro, with 22 hectares of walls, is notable for its variety of housing types, ranging from rudimentary circular structures to the more complex rectangular homes used by the Romans.
- Preserved Villages
Penafiel is particularly well-known for its charming historic villages that serve as living time capsules.
Quintandona (Lagares) and Cabroelo (Capela) are two excellent examples, and both are worth a visit.
Cabroelo is a charming tiny village nestled among pine-clad hills, made of granite and complete with charming wooden granaries, water mills, and windmills.
Quintandona, with a population of only 60 people, is similarly attractive.
The buildings in this village are composed of black slate and shale, giving them a distinct look.
There’s a 200-year-old chapel, a washhouse, several wooden granaries, and a couple of lookout platforms for the highland panorama.
- Museu da Broa
In scenic Cabroelo, six historic mills in a dreamlike setting near a cascade allow visitors to learn about Penafiel’s bread-making tradition.
These little granite structures have been restored to working order, transporting you back to a time when cornbread was essential for the existence of the hamlet.
They would grind flour 24 hours a day, and there are now footbridges connecting each mill across the Tranqueuira River.
There are panels along the way that describe each stage of the process of converting maize into cornbread, from seeding to threshing, grinding, and baking.
- Termas de São Vicente
These springs in the parish of the same name provide some of Europe’s most mineral-rich water.
The Luso-Romans discovered them in the 4th century, and the remnants of this old bathing complex may be found immediately to the side of the current spa.
The spring is very alkaline and high in sodium, sulphur compounds, and fluoride.
The waters are said to be more helpful in treating musculoskeletal and respiratory issues as a result of this.
If you just have a few hours, you may relax in the thermal pool and spa’s jacuzzis and whirlpools.
- Outdoor Recreation
Penafiel’s scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, particularly in the south, where the River Tâmega joins the Douro at Entre-os-Rios.
A new port receiving Douro cruise vessels has been built between the high green banks.
In a location of steep hills and woodland, it’s no surprise that mountain biking is popular in Penafiel, and there are hundreds of routes and five clubs to contact for advice.
You might also take a lesson at one of two equestrian centres, Casa de Gato Morada and Centro Hpico de Penafiel, or go off on foot over a network of well-marked trails.
- Romanesque Route
The Sousa Valley is home to a plethora of Romanesque churches and monasteries, many of which have lately been transformed into tourist attractions.
This continues right through Penafiel, so if you like historic ecclesiastical buildings, you may spend days wandering from one wonder to the next.
There are 21 in total along the road, with six in Penafiel. The Igreja de São Gens in Boelhe is the second most important church after the Paço de Sousa monastery.
This one is a 12th-century National Monument that stands out for its Romanesque baptismal font and the images engraved into the capitals and corbels on the facade.
- Quinta da Aveleda
The Quinta da Aveleda is a notch above most wine estates, and it’s worth a visit even if you’re not a fan of vinho verde.
However, if you are a fan, a tour of this gorgeous property will be much more enjoyable because it concludes with a tasting.
The Guedes family has owned the Quinta da Aveleda since the 1870s, while the estate dates back to the 17th century.
The gardens were designed in the late 1800s in the English style and are filled with eccentric follies, one of which is a stone tower for the estate’s goats to play on.
There are other oddities, such as a mullioned window arch borrowed from the 14th-century home of Henry the Navigator.
In terms of wine, Casal Garcia is one of the most well-known exporting vinho verde brands.
