Viewpoints Tour

Day 1 -

1 day itinerary

Morning:

9:30 am - Arrival in Alijó highway A4, exit Pópulo/IC5.

9:35 am - Follow direction Alijó

9:45 am - Arrival in Alijó, visit to the town and county seat

• Points of interest:
• Mother Church
• Centennial plane tree
• Historic center
• Tourist Office
• Municipal library
• Alijó District Court (if it's a weekday, to view the beautiful stained glass panels there)
• Dr. Francisco Matos Cordeiro public garden
• Chapel of Misericórdia or Senhor do Andor
• City Hall
• Pillory
• Noura's House

10:30 am - Departure from Alijó towards São Mamede de Ribatua - Miradouro do Ujo (follow EM 596 - Safres)

10:45 am - Arrival at Miradouro do Ujo

It is another excellent spot to admire the landscape of the Tua Valley. It is located on Municipal Road 596, between the villages of São Mamede de Ribatua and Safres, in the municipality of Alijó. Upon arriving at the viewpoint, visitors are greeted by a stunning setting, full of natural beauty and tranquility. From the imposing iron infrastructure, you can admire an extensive section of the valley and the current reservoir, as well as the rural landscape of Trás-os-Montes with its vineyards and olive groves. Considered one of the most popular viewpoints in the region, this place has such great symbolism that it manages to attract visitors during the day, but also at night it is a great reference point for practicing the Starlight modality in terms of Astrotourism.

11:00 am - Return to the town of Alijó towards the wine-growing village of Favaios.

11:20 am - Arrival in Favaios

• Visit to the chapel and viewpoint of Santa Bárbara

Located on Santa Bárbara Hill, this viewpoint allows us to appreciate the entire town of Favaios and its surrounding vineyard landscapes, the plateau where the famous and appreciated Moscatel wine is produced.

 What to visit:

• Bread and Wine Museum Center
• Main church
• Saint Paio Chapel
• Chapel of the Lord Jesus of Outeiro
• Typical bakeries where Favaios' typical "four-cornered wheat" and meat bread are made.
• Favaios Cooperative Winery

12:15 pm - Departure from Favaios towards Sanfins do Douro

12:20 pm - Arrival in Sanfins do Douro

Possibility of lunch in one of the village's restaurants

Afternoon:

1:30 pm - Visit to the Sanctuary and Viewpoint of Nossa Senhora da Piedade

It is located precisely on the site of the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, in Sanfins do Douro, a place of worship and major pilgrimage, especially during summer and pilgrimages.

It is a viewpoint that encompasses the entire town and the wine-growing region in the center of the municipality, of rare beauty and unique landscapes.

What to visit: main church, episcopal residence, chapel of São Tiago, bridge and Roman sidewalk, fountains, cruises, alminhas, Pombaline landmarks, Manor of the Condes of Vinhais, stately homes, among others.

3:00 pm - Departure from Sanfins do Douro towards the village of Alijó.

3:15 pm - Arriving in Alijó, head towards the village of Castedo.

3:30 pm - Arrival at the village of Castedo, visit to the Miradouro and Santa Marinha chapel

This viewpoint is one of the most beautiful in the region. We can find it next to the small chapel of Santa Marinha, a place of worship and pilgrimage. From here, you can see another beautiful landscape over the Douro river valley and the village of Tua.

16:00 - Continuing the journey, following the municipal road passing through the villages of Cotas, Vilarinho de Cotas on a road with wonderful landscapes, until reaching the village of Casal de Loivos, a place located above the village of Pinhão, in search of another breathtaking view .

4:15 pm - Arrival in Casal de Loivos, walk through the village to its end where we find one of the most emblematic viewpoints overlooking the Douro, the Miradouro de Casal de Loivos.

 Here, visitors have the opportunity to come face to face with one of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in the world. As we approach its huge balcony, our senses are immediately intoxicated by the aromas, the calm, the sounds and the panoramic view that meets our gaze: winding paths, villages scattered across the hillsides. Farms where the wines age in barrels and, below, calm, gentle, the river is that magnificent mirror that reflects this entire world of charm and dreams.

What to visit: approximately 2 kilometers from the viewpoint in Vila de Pinhão, you can visit the Railway Station with its beautiful tile panels, taste wine at one of the region's farms: Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta do Bomfim, Quinta da Roêda, Quinta da Foz, Wine House at Railway Station. Take a boat trip on the Douro, or other water activities.

The return home can be done via the EN 322 towards Pinhão - Régua or again towards the north towards Alijó - Vila Real.