The blooming of the almond trees is one of the most remarkable events in the Douro region. Between the months of February and March, municipalities like Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Torre de Moncorvo, and Freixo de Espada à Cinta are covered in white, creating a unique and breathtaking landscape. Beyond being a beautiful natural phenomenon, this spectacle is enveloped in a fascinating legend.

Legend has it that, in the area of present-day Silves, in the Algarve, a Moorish king married Gilda, a beautiful Nordic princess with blonde hair and blue eyes. However, Gilda lived in profound sadness, nostalgic for her snow-covered homelands, which eventually caused her to fall ill. Desperate to cheer her up and restore her health, the king followed the advice of a prisoner from the North and ordered the planting of thousands of almond trees. The goal was that, with the arrival of spring, the trees would be laden with white flowers, creating the illusion of a blanket of snow. When spring blossomed, the princess was met with a landscape painted white. The sight cured her melancholy, finally soothing her homesickness.