Home, by Julieta, suite, in the City Park of Penafiel - Porto

Those who visit Penafiel find a good example of the cultural, gastronomic and landscape richness of the region of Tâmega and Sousa. In the transition between the urbanity of Porto City and the rurality of the Marão and Alvão Mountains, the region still maintains the characteristics of rural life and the green landscape, articulated in the case of Penafiel, with a harmonious urban growth, where trade and manufacturing industry are prominent.

The villages are one of the charms of the county, places that maintain the sounds and smells typical of rurality. The village of Cabroelo is full of rustic alleys and recovered elements, this being its brand image. In turn, the Village of Quintandona, punctuated by the natural viewpoint of singular beauty, one of the main points of interest.

Penafiel is part of the Romanesque Route of the Sousa Valley, made up of 21 monuments distributed in six municipalities. And also with the Route of the Churches, where the intention is the promotion of religious tourism, in its historic center and which competes with the route of the iron balconies, a typical and well preserved element in some beautiful houses of the city.

In Penafiel there are other works dating from prehistory, such as Castro do Monte Mozinho, Anta de Santa Marta, or Menir de Luzim.

The Municipal Museum, housed in the seventeenth-century palace of Pereira do Lago, is an award-winning space where history and heritage intertwine with modernity and new technologies. It permanently has five rooms with themes: Identity, Territory, Archeology, Crafts and Earth and Water.

As far as adventure, sport and leisure are concerned, Penafiel owns the Magikland Amusement Park, where six thematic areas are spread over 7ha of nature and several rails for mountain biking, the shooting range in Luzim and an equestrian center.

The spa resorts of S. Vicente and Quinta da Torre, whose high-sulfur waters are exploited with clear health and well-being benefits, especially in the SPA area and relaxing jet pool.

Gastronomy is a strong element of the region, standing out here the roasted kid in the oven and the green or bazulaque (dish that is designed with the goat kids). The rojões and the famous lamprey rice are other delicacies, not forgetting the cabidela rice or the cod with broa, other of the specialties penafidelenses. There may also be listed products of excellence in sweets, such as love cakes or pies of S. Martin.

The annual festivals and pilgrimages are another good reason to mark in the calendar a visit to Penafiel.

The month of January punctuates with the songs of a happy new year, traditionally known by the "janeiras". In February, the Open Ciclocrosse, very popular among the Fray Fidelis, stands out. In March, we highlight the Lamprey Festival and the Holy Week offices, which have their greatest relevance on Thursday of Endoities, followed by the Easter festivities, with the departure of Compasso to liven up the streets.

In March there is the Penafiel City Race and in June the Penafiel Racing Fest, in a city clearly focused on motor sports. In this month still celebrate the great festivals of the city, by the height of the Feast of the Body of God.

In the months of July and August the county does not stop, in festivals and pilgrimages, a little everywhere.

Highlights for the Aquabike European Championships in Entre-os-Rios; the Moura Encantada Festival; the White Night and the Grandparents Party, in the City Park. The most important agricultural fair in the region - the Agrival, the Red Night and the Feira de S. Bartolomeu. In September, not to miss the Feast of the Quintandona Broth and the Casca de Carvalho Melon Festival, a typical and highly appreciated product.

October presents the Office as a high point, which contributed greatly to the fact that in 2016 Penafiel received the Portuguese Municipality Prize with the Best Autonomous Cultural Program by the SPA - Sociedade Portuguesa de Autores.

In November, not to be missed, the S. Fair takes place. Martinho and in December, the traditional Christmas animations.