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Montanhas
High above in the north east, lies a rocky mountainous region called Montanhas. It is said that stone is the soul of this region – the stone that makes up the temples and manors, the rocky mountains themselves, and the endurance of the people who have preserved their rituals and traditions of centuries past (in the form of dancing and singing exhibiting dominant Celtic influence) by combining their pagan heritage with Christian rituals.
Life is simple in Montanhas, and people there still live the way they did in earlier times. Simple though it may be, Montanhas has several sites that may interest its visitors.
In a rough and isolated region is a place called Bragança, the capital of the Trás-os-Montes (behind the mountains) province. Right above Bragança stands a circle of medieval walls enclosing an equally medieval village known as Cidadela.
Southeast of the town of Vila Real in Trás-as-Montes is the palace Solar de Mateus. The image of this palace can be seen on the labels of Sogrape's Mateus Rosé (wine). Vila Real also holds samples diverse religious architecture from baroque to 18th century architecture.
The Roman bridge is the most characteristic image of Chaves, which functions to this day from the day it was built centuries ago. However, most tourists go to Chaves not for the bridge but for the spas filled with very warm sodium bicarbonated water with its restorative and curative effects.
Monsanto, voted the most typical village in Portugal, encloses the ancient Lusitanian settlement of Serra de Penha Garcia. Nearby is the Roman Visigothic chapel of Vira Corça.
In the Dao region is the provincial capital called Viseu, one of Portugal's main wine districts, and home to famous painter Vasco Fernandes (called Grão Vasco). He was declared the most outstanding painter of northern Portugal during his lifetime (1475-1540). His works are now on display at the Museu de Grão-Vasco.
