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5.6 mi from the city centre · Amarante · Portugal
Amarante
Amarante, on the River Tâmega below the Serra do Marão, is a UNESCO Creative City of Music. Cross the arched São Gonçalo bridge, defended for 14 days against the French in 1809, visit the saint's monastery church and see modern Portuguese art in a former convent.
1 brewery · 2 venues
Amarante lies on the River Tâmega, on the western side of the Serra do Marão; in the town the river is crossed by the large arched São Gonçalo bridge. Since 2017 it has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Music.
The town grew in importance after the arrival of São Gonçalo (1187-1259), who settled here after pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem. Tradition credits him with building the old bridge over the Tâmega, and after his death Amarante became a place of pilgrimage. In the 16th century João III ordered the Monastery of São Gonçalo to be built over the chapel by the bridge where, by tradition, the saint lived and was buried. Floods brought down the old bridge in 1763, and the bridge seen today was rebuilt in the following years.
In 1809, during the second French invasion, Portuguese troops under Francisco da Silveira, joined by local people and clergy, held the bridge against French assaults for 14 days. The French finally broke through, but Silveira later retook the town, and its resistance earned Amarante the collar of the Order of the Tower and Sword, shown in its coat of arms. Cannon damage on the façade of the Church of São Gonçalo and marks on the bridge still recall the battle.
The former Dominican Convent of São Gonçalo houses the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Museum of Modern Art, founded in 1947 by Albano Sardoeira. It remembers artists and writers the town council lists as born in Amarante, among them the painter Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso and the poet Teixeira de Pascoaes, but its main focus is modern and contemporary Portuguese art, in particular painting and sculpture.
Craft beer in Amarante is still a rare find, which makes tracking down a local glass part of the adventure. After crossing the São Gonçalo bridge, ask around for something freshly brewed.
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Frequently asked questions
During the second French invasion, Portuguese troops under Francisco da Silveira, joined by local people and clergy, held the bridge against French assaults for 14 days. The French broke through, but Silveira later retook the town, earning it the collar of the Order of the Tower and Sword. Cannon damage on the church façade still recalls the battle.
A holy man (1187-1259) who settled here after pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem. Tradition credits him with building the old bridge over the Tâmega, and after his death the town became a place of pilgrimage. In the 16th century João III ordered the monastery built over the chapel where, by tradition, he lived and was buried.
The Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Museum of Modern Art, in the former Dominican Convent of São Gonçalo, was founded in 1947. It remembers artists and writers born in the town, such as the painter Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso and the poet Teixeira de Pascoaes, and its main focus is modern and contemporary Portuguese painting and sculpture.
Yes. Since 2017 Amarante has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Music. The town lies on the River Tâmega, on the western side of the Serra do Marão, and its large arched São Gonçalo bridge, rebuilt after floods brought down the old one in 1763, is its best-known landmark.