Our School BORDER TOWNS MAIN TOWNS Now, you have the opportunity to learn more about our region. Click on the symbols , and towns EXIT BRAGA GUIMARÃES VIANA CASTELO PORTO CAMINHA MELGAÇO MONÇÃO VALENÇA VILA NOVA CERVEIRA

I n t h e M i n h o R e g i o n, t h e r e a r e f i v e t o w n s o n t h e b o r d e r w i t h S p a i n : M e l g a ç o, M o n ç ã o, V a l e n ç a, V i l a N o v e d e C e r v e i r a e C a m i n h a. O n t h e m a r g i n s o f t h e M i n h o R i v e r, w h i c h i s t h e n a t u r a l b o r d e r b e t w e e n P o r t u g a l a n d S p a i n, t h e y a r e o l d t r a d i t i o n a l t o w n s w i t h a n c i e n t C a s t l e s a n d W a l l s, o n c e b u i l t b e c a u s e o f t h e s u c c e s s i v e i n v a s i o n s o f T h e B a r b a r i a n, A r a b e s, a n d e v e n o f t h e F r e n c h i n t h e X I X t h C e n t u r y. B o r d e r T o w n s

Caminha

Melgaço

Monção

Vila Nova de Cerveira

Valença

A l s o k n o w n a s “ t h e h e a r t o f t h e M i n h o R e g i o n ”, i t h a s a n i n t e r e s t i n g h i s t o r i c a l c e n t r e, f u l l o f c h u r c h e s a n d s a n c t u a r i e s, v i s i t e d b y t h o u s a n d s o f p i l g r i m s e v e r y y e a r. N o w, i t i s a l i v e l y t o w n e s p e c i a l l y d u e t o t h e d y n a m i c y o u t h w h o a t t e n d t h e M i n h o U n i v e r s i t y. B r a g a i s o n e o f t h e o l d e s t P o r t u g u e s e t o w n s, f o u n d e d i n r o m a n t i m e s a s “ B r a c a r a A u g u s t a ”.

Braga

A f t e r t h e d e f e a t o f h i s m o t h e r ’ s a r m y, D. A f o n s o H e n r i q u e s t o o k c o n t r o l o f t h e “ C o n d a d o P o r t u c a l e n s e ”, a n d d e c l a r e d i t s i n d e p e n d e n c e i n , t h u s b e c o m i n g t h e f i r s t K i n g o f P o r t u g a l. N o w a d a y s, G u i m a r ã e s h a s b e e n d e c l a r e d W o r l d P a t r i m o n y b y U N E S C O, d u e t o i t s w e l l - p r e s e r v e d h i s t o r i c a l c e n t r e, a n d h a s b e c o m e a n i m p o r t a n t U n i v e r s i t y c e n t r e, t o o. G u i m a r ã e s i s k n o w n a s “ t h e b i r t h p l a c e ” o f P o r t u g a l. I t w a s t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c e n t r e o f t h e “ C o n d a d o P o r t u c a l e n s e ”, w h i c h b e l o n g e d t o t h e K i n g d o m o f L e o n, i n t h e t e r r i t o r y o f f u t u r e S p a i n.

Guimarães

I t h a s a l w a y s b e e n a g r e a t b u s i n e s s t o w n, w i t h a n i m p o r t a n t i n d u s t r i a l s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a a n d a l i v e l y c o m m e r c i a l c i t y c e n t r e. T h e r e f o r e O p o r t o i s u s u a l l y c a l l e d t h e “ C i t y o f W o r k ”.. O p o r t o R a i s e d f r o m t h e g r a y N o r t h e r n g r a n i t e, t h e c i t y k e e p s t h e s t r e n g t h a n d c o u r a g e o f t h e p a s t. F a i r a n d u n b e a t t e n i t o f f e r s i t s v i s i t o r s h o s p i t a l i t y a n d a f f e c t i o n.

Oporto

B e s i d e s i t s h i s t o r i c a l c e n t r e, i t s s h i p y a r d i s t h e l i v i n g p r o o f o f t h e P o r t u g u e s e S e a D i s c o v e r i e s, a s t h i s i s w h e r e m a n y c a r a v e l s a n d s h i p s w e r e b u i l t, t h o s e w h i c h h e l p e d t h e P o r t u g u e s e d i s c o v e r t h e “ N e w W o r l d ” i n t h e X V a n d X V I c e n t u r i e s. I n A u g u s t, t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e v i s i t t h i s t o w n t o a t t e n d t h e r e l i g i o u s f e s t i v i t i e s o f “ S e n h o r a d a A g o n i a ”, a n d e n j o y a n c i e n t f o l k t r a d i t i o n s. V i a n a d o C a s t e l o i s s i t u a t e d a t t h e m o u t h o f t h e L i m a R i v e r, n e x t t o t h e A t l a n t i c O c e a n. D u e t o i t s p r i v i l i g e d l o c a t i o n, i t h a s b e e n p o p u l a t e d s i n c e p r e - h i s t o r i c t i m e s, a s s h o w n i n t h e p r e - h i s t o r i c s i t e s f o u n d i n t h e S t a L u z i a H i l l, n e x t t o t h e t o w n c e n t r e.

Viana do Castelo

Gastronomy

Arcos de Valdevez Main course: Cozido (boiled meat and vegetables) Dessert: Bolo de Mel (honey cake)

Braga Dessert: Pudim Abade de Priscos (pudding) Main course: Bacalhau à Narcisa (codfish)

Caminha Dessert: Arroz Doce (sweet rice) Main course: Caldeirada (boiled mixed fish)

Esposende Main course: Ensopado de Lampreia (Lamprey) Dessert: Clarinhas

Guimarães Dessert: Mexidos (bread honey and nuts) Main course: Arroz de Cabidela (chicken rice)

Melgaço Dessert: Bucho Doce Main course: Cabrito Assado (roast goatling)

Monção Dessert: Sopa Dourada (golden soup) Main course: Arroz de Lampreia (lamprey rice)

Ponte de Lima Dessert: Leite Creme (custard) Main course: Arroz de Sarrabulho (pork and rice)

Terras do Bouro Dessert: Aletria (sweet noodles) Main course: Feijão com Couves (meat with beans and cabbage)

Viana do Castelo Dessert: Meias Luas (“ half moons”) Main course: Bacalhau com Grão (codfish with chickpea)

Vila Nova de Cerveira Main course: Savel Dessert: Biscoitos de milho (corn biscuits)

Póvoa de Varzim Main course: Pescada à Poveira Dessert: Rabanadas (fried bread)

Porto Main course: Francesinha (“Frenchy”) Dessert: Tíbia

The National Natural Park of Peneda-Gerês comprises hectares of protected territory. It is a region full of high mountains and an infinity of microclimates. Its rich flora and fauna are reflected in the inumerous lakes and rivers that cross the hills filled with yellow and pink wild flowers. In winter time, the top of the hills show the grey granit rocks, often covered with snow or involved in the mist. The bells of churches, the whistle of sheppards, the barking of their dogs ( especially the “Castro Laboreiro” local breed of dogs ) resound in the wind. It is not only the land of wild game, wolves, deers, eagles and wild pigs but also the land of the wild horses called “garranos” – a bit of Paradise on Earth... The National Natural Park of Peneda-Gerês comprises hectares of protected territory. It is a region full of high mountains and an infinity of microclimates. Its rich flora and fauna are reflected in the inumerous lakes and rivers that cross the hills filled with yellow and pink wild flowers. In winter time, the top of the hills show the grey granit rocks, often covered with snow or involved in the mist. The bells of churches, the whistle of sheppards, the barking of their dogs ( especially the “Castro Laboreiro” local breed of dogs ) resound in the wind. It is not only the land of wild game, wolves, deers, eagles and wild pigs but also the land of the wild horses called “garranos” – a bit of Paradise on Earth... National Natural Park of Peneda- Gerês

Peneda- Gerês

The windy beaches with golden sand of the Northern Coast fo Portugal are famous for being rich in iodine. That is why so many people flow to these beaches, in summertime, despite the cold water (18 degrees on average). The windy beaches with golden sand of the Northern Coast fo Portugal are famous for being rich in iodine. That is why so many people flow to these beaches, in summertime, despite the cold water (18 degrees on average). The Beaches

The Beach

Vinho Verde Vinho Verde is a special wine produced in the Northwest of Portugal. With a 2,000- year-old tradition, this wine is as fresh as the landscape, as scented as the heather which grows in the woods, as unique as the ancient culture of the Northern peoples of Portugal. It is a pleasure to drink white “vinho verde” when you are having fish or sea food, and red “vinho verde” with the rich gastronomy of the Minho Region. Vinho Verde is a special wine produced in the Northwest of Portugal. With a 2,000- year-old tradition, this wine is as fresh as the landscape, as scented as the heather which grows in the woods, as unique as the ancient culture of the Northern peoples of Portugal. It is a pleasure to drink white “vinho verde” when you are having fish or sea food, and red “vinho verde” with the rich gastronomy of the Minho Region.

Vinho Verde