Amares is a Portuguese village belonging to the District of Braga, North
region, county seat, integrated in a mountainous area, in a beautiful valley
formed by the rivers Cávado and Homem, mostly rural, famous for the
production of oranges and the highly regarded Vinho Verde.
Amares
presents a simple rural architecture, typical of this northern region, where
rural houses coexist with palatial houses and manors of the great
agricultural lords, such as Casa da Tapada, among many others, scattered
among the many picturesque rural villages of the county, which are worth a
visit. . The development of this village was greatly influenced by the
Religious Orders that settled in the region, such as the Beniditine Order at
the Monastery of Rendufe, in the 11th century, and the Cistercian Order that
established the Monastery of Santa Maria do Bouro in the 12th century.
Guimaraes Castle. Linked to the founding of the Portucalense County
and the struggles for independence from Portugal, this fortress built in
the 9th century was responsible for defending the first capital of the
Kingdom.
Castle of Povoa de Lanhoso. Built on top of Monte do Pilar,
the largest granite monolith in the country, this is one of the most
imposing Portuguese castles.
Monastery of Santo André de Rendufe.
Considered one of the main houses of Benedictine monks in the country,
its founder was Egas Viegas de Penagate, a member of the nobility and
master of the Knights Templar in the country between 1157 and 1196. He
was lord of the Terras de Bouro, associated with those of Penela,
between the rivers Cávado and Lima. Over the centuries, the monastery
was expanded, but the main works date from the 18th century, such as the
construction of the new church and convent facilities, with emphasis on
the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.
Monastery of Tibaes. Founded in
sec. XI, this building is classified as a Property of Public Interest
since 1944.
Ethnographic Museum of Terras do Bouro. The village of
Vilarinho da Furna was a place in the parish of Campo do Gerês, located
in the northeastern part of the municipality of Terras de Bouro. It was
submerged, at the beginning of the 1971s, and with it a great
ethnographic richness, associated with agro-silvo-pastoral activities,
experiences and community spirit of its people, houses and other stories
of the past. As a way of safeguarding all the village's heritage, the
Ethnographic Museum of Vilarinho da Furna was built, on the initiative
of the then young student from Vilarinho, Manuel de Azevedo Antunes,
with the support, mainly, of the Municipality of Terras de Bouro, which
recreates the place that was submerged by the waters of the reservoir,
on the Homem River, when the dam was inaugurated, on May 21, 1972. With
its doors open since 1989, it is a living example of what Vilarinho da
Furna was and the Museum itself was built with original objects and
houses taken from the village.
Peneda-Gerês National Park. One of the
greatest natural attractions in Portugal, due to the rare and impressive
beauty of the landscape, the ecological and ethnographic value and the
variety of fauna (deer, garnos, wolves, birds of prey) and flora (pine
trees, yew trees, chestnut trees, oak trees and various medicinal plants
). It extends from the Gerês mountain range, to the south, through the
Peneda mountain range to the Spanish border. It includes sections of the
Roman road that connected Braga to Astorga, known as Geira. There are
two important pilgrimage centers in the park, the Nossa Senhora da
Peneda Sanctuary, a replica of the Bom Jesus de Braga sanctuary, and São
Bento da Porta Aberta, a place of great popular devotion.
Sanctuary
of Bom Jesus. Ordered to be built in the 18th century, this Catholic
sanctuary is an architectural-landscape complex integrated by a church.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Abbey. The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da
Abadia is a Marian sanctuary from the 18th century that impresses with
its imposing façade, as well as its state of conservation. The interior
of the 18th-century temple has three naves, separated by full-length
arcades supported by Tuscan columns.
by bus/coach
The village has regular bus connections to the city
of Braga, through which it has access to most cities in the north of the
country.
By car
Through the city of Braga following national
road nº 101
by train/train
From Braga it is possible to access the train line
to the city of Porto.
by bus/coach
There are buses that make
the route to the Peneda Geres National Park, and to the city of Braga.
Oranges of Amares – Amares has a characteristic, unique in the
country: out-of-season oranges, so you can find them in traditional
fairs usually held every Friday, or even in local shops.
Barcelona
Fair. The weekly fair in Barcelos is considered one of the most famous
fairs in Portugal. It takes place weekly, on Thursdays. It is an old
tradition, in which we can feel the soul and culture of the people of
Minho and Barcelos in particular. It is a space rich in color and
diversity in which we can find vegetables, handicrafts and regional
products. It appeared for the first time in 1412. It was granted by D.
João in a letter dated 19 February of the same year, at the request of
the Count of Barcelos D. Afonso, his son.
Discotheque Lagar. This Project emerged in 1982 from a personal initiative, at a time when few or even no nightlife spaces existed. This House arises from a wine press (hence the name Lagar's) belonging to the owner's family, from which the first phase of this space was built.
Average
Pousada de Santa Maria do Bouro, Largo do Terreiro, 253
371 970 ✆, fax: 253 371 976, guest@pousadas.pt. Result of the
restoration of a Cistercian Monastery from the 17th century. XII, one of
the most characteristic of that period in Portugal, in a remarkable work
by the Architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, awarded with the 2011 Pritzker
Prize, the highest architecture prize in the world. This fantastic hotel
in Gerês, surrounded by stunning gardens and exhaustively restored and
adapted to modern times, has become a temple of peace and quiet.
GNR – Amares Territorial Post Rua Combatentes do Ultramar nrs 16, 18 and 20, Ferreirros.
Amares Health Center Rua 25 de Abril, 253 909 230 ✆.
Hospital de
Braga Lugar das 7 Fontes, 253 027 000
Prehistoric and Ancient Periods
Human presence in Amares dates
back to prehistoric times, with archaeological evidence indicating
settlements from the Iron Age. Ancient hill forts, known as castros, dot
the nearby landscape, serving as fortified villages that highlight early
community structures and defensive strategies against invasions. These
sites reflect a society engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, and
basic metallurgy.
During the Roman era, the region saw increased
connectivity and development. A significant Roman road linking Astorga
(in modern Spain) to Braga passed directly through Amares, facilitating
trade, military movements, and cultural exchange. This infrastructure
underscores the area's integration into the Roman province of Gallaecia.
Additionally, the therapeutic mineral waters at places like Caldelas do
Gerês were already renowned, with Romans exploiting them for health and
leisure purposes—a tradition that persists today.
Medieval Period
The medieval era marked a profound religious and architectural
transformation in Amares, heavily influenced by monastic orders. As
early as the 7th and 8th centuries, the site of the Santuário de Nossa
Senhora da Abadia may have hosted early Christian structures,
potentially making it one of Portugal's oldest sanctuaries. However, the
current sanctuary, built in the 17th and 18th centuries, features a
Baroque style reminiscent of Braga's Bom Jesus do Monte, with eight
chapels along a steep path depicting the life of Christ, pilgrim
shelters, and a museum of sacred art.
In the 11th century, the Order
of Saint Benedict founded the Santo André de Rendufe Monastery, a
Romanesque structure that became a center of spiritual and economic
activity. The monastery underwent 18th-century renovations,
incorporating rococo gold carvings, a stone fountain, and formal
gardens. It was designated a Property of Public Interest in 1943,
preserving its cultural significance.
The 12th century brought the
establishment of the Santa Maria do Bouro Monastery by the Cistercian
Order. This abbey, with its austere yet elegant architecture, played a
key role in regional agriculture and viticulture. Abandoned in the 19th
century, it was meticulously restored in the late 20th century by
architect Eduardo Souto de Moura and converted into a luxury Pousada
hotel, blending historical preservation with modern amenities. Its
location near walking trails in the Peneda-Gerês National Park makes it
a hub for eco-tourism.
By the mid-14th century, the Ponte do Porto
(also called Ponte de Prozelo) was constructed over the Cávado River
using local granite. This 150-meter bridge features eleven unequal
arches and has roots in ancient crossings. Declared a national monument
in 1910, it is tied to local legends, including one where women from
Terras de Bouro supplied stones to aid in conquests on the southern
bank.
Amares was also the birthplace of notable medieval figures,
such as Gualdim Pais (1118–1195), a crusader and Knight Templar who
served under Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques. Pais is renowned
for founding the city of Tomar and constructing its iconic
castle-convent. Other historical natives include D. Mendo Moniz, a
nobleman, and the Renaissance poet Francisco Sá de Miranda (1481–1558),
who introduced Italian poetic forms to Portugal.
Modern and
Contemporary Periods
The 17th century saw the construction of an
aqueduct at Quinta D'Amares, enhancing irrigation and water management
in the area.
In the 18th century, under King Dom João V, the Caldelas
Thermal Baths were developed, building on Roman foundations. The site
gained royal patronage in the 19th century, attracting aristocracy for
its healing waters.
The 20th century brought modernization, including
the establishment of Peneda-Gerês as Portugal's only national park in
1971, boosting tourism in Amares. The area remains sparsely populated,
focusing on agriculture and serving as a gateway to natural and
historical explorations near Braga.
In contemporary times, Amares has
embraced cultural heritage tourism. The conversion of monasteries into
pousadas and the preservation of sites like the Santuário de Nossa
Senhora da Abadia (with its annual pilgrimages) highlight this shift.
Notable modern figures from Amares include singer-songwriter António
Variações (1944–1984), known for blending traditional Portuguese music
with pop, and footballer Jorge Pires (born 1981), who played over 530
professional matches.
Today, Amares balances its rich historical
legacy with natural beauty, offering visitors a glimpse into Portugal's
layered past through its monasteries, bridges, and landscapes.
Topography and Terrain
The topography of Amares is diverse and
picturesque, characterized by irregular valleys interspersed with
mountainous areas. The terrain features rolling hills, lush rural
landscapes, and a mix of fertile plains and elevated spaces, creating a
transitional zone from the flat valleys to the rugged highlands.
Elevations vary, with much of the municipality sitting at lower
altitudes around 86 feet (26 meters) in valley areas, but rising
significantly toward the surrounding mountains. The landscape is fed by
rivers that often run parallel to the municipal boundaries, contributing
to the formation of deep valleys and occasional plateaus. This varied
relief supports a blend of agricultural fields in the lower areas and
forested slopes in the higher elevations, making Amares a visually
striking region with breathtaking mountains and green expanses.
Hydrography
Amares is notably sandwiched between two major rivers:
the Cávado River to the north and the Homem River to the east. These
waterways play a crucial role in shaping the geography, providing
fertile valleys and supporting agriculture. The Cávado River, a
significant feature in the region, is spanned by historic structures
like the Ponte do Porto bridge and contributes to the area's irrigation
and scenic beauty. The Homem River, along with smaller tributaries,
flows through the municipality, often forming gentle flows in the
valleys but becoming more dynamic as they approach the nearby mountains,
where they create cascading waterfalls. Within the adjacent Peneda-Gerês
National Park, wild rivers add to the hydrographic network, carving deep
valleys and feeding lakes. Overall, the rivers enhance the fertility of
the soil, making Amares renowned for its orange groves and vinho verde
production.
Climate
Amares experiences a Mediterranean climate
with oceanic influences, featuring warm, dry summers and mild, wet
winters. Summers are short and mostly clear, lasting about 2.9 months
from late June to mid-September, with average daily high temperatures
exceeding 77°F (25°C). The hottest month is August, where highs average
81°F (27°C) and lows around 61°F (16°C). Winters are cold and wet, with
temperatures typically ranging from 43°F (6°C) to 82°F (28°C) annually,
but rarely dropping below 34°F (1°C) or exceeding 93°F (34°C). January
is the coldest month, with averages between 41°F (5°C) and 53°F (12°C).
Precipitation is relatively high, averaging 1841 mm annually, with the
wettest periods in winter, particularly December. This rainy climate
contributes to the lush greenery, though it can lead to localized
flooding during heavy rains.
Vegetation and Land Use
The
fertile soils and ample rainfall support a rich vegetative cover in
Amares, including lush vineyards, orange orchards, and dense forests.
The region is particularly known for its agricultural productivity, with
vinho verde wine and citrus fruits thriving in the valley areas. Forests
dominate the higher terrains, featuring a mix of deciduous and evergreen
species, while the valleys are dotted with cultivated fields and rural
settlements. This land use reflects the area's historical reliance on
agriculture, influenced by its proximity to rivers and mild climate.
Nearby Natural Features
Amares is closely linked to the Serra do
Gerês mountains and the expansive Peneda-Gerês National Park, which
borders the municipality to the northeast. This national park,
Portugal's only one, spans over 72,000 hectares and includes mountain
ranges such as Peneda, Soajo, Amarela, and Gerês, with the highest peak
at Nevosa (1,545 meters). The park offers a dramatic extension of
Amares' geography, with deep valleys, dense forests, cascading
waterfalls, serene lakes, and ancient granite formations dating back 300
million years. Plateaus like Mourela and Castro Laboreiro add to the
variety, providing habitats for diverse wildlife and opportunities for
outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing. The park's influence
enhances Amares' appeal as a gateway to natural exploration.