Introduction to the Itinerary

This itinerary traverses one of the most fascinating territories of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, where the Transmontana hotlands meet the Douro Demarcated Region—the oldest in the world. It's a journey that begins in the olive groves of Valpaços, one of the region's largest producers of PDO olive oil, passes through the mythical Murça with its pre-Roman pig and endless views over vineyards and olive groves, and culminates in Alijó, the gateway to the Alto Douro Wine Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The unique aspect of this itinerary lies in the landscape and cultural transition: from the Transmontane plateaus with their traditional chestnut and olive groves, to the schist terraces of the Douro where vineyards and olive groves embrace. It's a territory where olive oil and wine share the table and the landscape, and where gastronomy unites mountain traditions with Douro flavors.

Best Time to Visit

• September and October: Grape harvest in the Douro Valley (Alijó/Pinhão) and the beginning of the olive harvest. The vineyards take on golden and reddish hues. Wine Villages Festival.

• November and December: Full olive harvest season. Olive presses in operation in Valpaços and Murça. Gastronomic and regional product fairs.

• Spring (March to May): Lush green landscape. Olive groves in bloom. Ideal for hiking and nature walks.

• Summer (June to August): River beaches on the Douro and Tua rivers. Warm nights for al fresco dinners on Gaucho farms.

Day 1 — Valpaços: Transmontane Olive Oil Capital

Morning: Historic Center and Heritage

Start the day in the city of Valpaços, which has relied on olive groves as one of the cornerstones of its economy since the 16th century. Explore the historic center, with its pillory and churches, and visit the Municipal Museum where you can learn about local history, including the fascinating rock-carved olive presses — vestiges of Roman presence that testify to the ancestral agricultural production in this land.

Valpaços is the sixth largest municipality in the production of Trás-os-Montes DOP olive oil, with more than 5,400 hectares of olive groves and a tradition of association dating back to the founding of the Olive Growers Cooperative in 1951.

Visit to Olive Oil Producers

The municipality of Valpaços is rich in producers of quality olive oil who have opened their doors to olive tourism. Among the most prominent are brands such as Valverde, Quinta das Curtinhas, Do Camponês, Quinta Valle Madruga, Caixeiro, Fonte Ferrada, Quinta do Sobreiró de Cima, Coroa D’Oliveira, Apostolorum, and Cavalinho—present in both national and international markets.

Visit one of these producers for a complete olive tourism experience: a walk through the olive grove, a visit to the mill, an explanation of the cold extraction process, and a guided tasting of single-varietal and blended olive oils. Valpaços olive oils are distinguished by their exceptional organoleptic profile and low acidity.

Lunch

Have lunch at a local restaurant with authentic Transmontane cuisine. Alheira (a PGI product of the region), roast kid, and Barrosã steak are signature dishes. Always pair them with local olive oil—it's the best way to appreciate it.

Afternoon: Landscape and Chestnuts

After lunch, explore the northern part of the municipality to Carrazedo de Montenegro, a land of chestnut trees and wild products. If you visit in the autumn, you will find the Chestnut Fair, one of the most popular events in the county. The combination of chestnuts with olive oil is a Transmontane gastronomic tradition that deserves to be explored.

In the late afternoon, head towards Murça (about 30 km to the south).

Dinner and Overnight in Murça

Arrival in Murça for dinner. Try the famous boiled cod with potatoes and local cabbage, generously drizzled with local olive oil. For dessert, try the Murça cheese tarts and the toucinho-do-céu (a traditional Portuguese dessert) — whose recipe, it is said, was invented in the old Benedictine convent that now houses the Town Hall.

Overnight in Murça: rural tourism in the surrounding area or accommodation in the center. The surrounding mountains and the landscapes overlooking the Tinhela Valley guarantee tranquility.

Day 2 — Murça: The Pig, the Olive Groves, and the Tinhela Footbridges

Morning: Historic Center and Heritage

Murça lies at the transition between the Trás-os-Montes and Douro regions, with landscapes marked by vineyards and olive groves to the south and granite hills to the north. The town preserves vestiges from Prehistory, notably the Crasto de Palheiros and the Megalithic Necropolis of Alto das Madorras.

In the center of the town, visit the famous Porca de Murça — a pre-Roman granite sculpture 1.85 m long, associated with fertility cults and a great symbol of the land. In the Iberian Peninsula, these sculptures are known as "verracos" and are attributed to the Vettones, one of the pre-Roman Celtic peoples. Also admire the pillory, the Parish Church with its gilded altarpieces, and the Chapel of Mercy with its impressive columns engraved with bunches of grapes. Stroll through the manor houses of the Morgadinhos and Counts of Murça, remarkable examples of the noble architecture of Trás-os-Montes.

Hiking and Nature

Murça offers trails of great beauty: the Sobreira Trail, the Tinhela Trail, and the spectacular Tinhela Walkways — a riverside path that crosses landscapes of great natural beauty. The São Domingos viewpoint offers an endless panoramic view over vineyards and olive groves that stretch to the Douro River.

Lunch

Murça's gastronomy is exceptional. Try the roast kid goat with small potatoes and oven-baked rice, or the cod drizzled with the unmistakable local olive oil. The smoked meat is famous for its distinctive flavor. The convent sweets — queijadas and toucinho-do-céu — are a must.

Afternoon: Trip to Alijó

After lunch, head towards Alijó (approximately 25 km). The road offers progressively more spectacular views as you approach the heart of the Douro wine region. The landscape transforms: the Transmontane plateaus give way to schist terraces covered in vines, and the olive groves gain a new dimension in the Douro landscape.

Murça is, in fact, the northernmost point of the Douro Demarcated Region—which explains the quality of its wines, including the celebrated Porca de Murça from Real Companhia Velha, one of the oldest and best-selling brands in the Douro.

Late Afternoon: Alijó

Arrival in Alijó and settling in. Stroll through the town center: the centuries-old plane tree in the main square, the typical streets, and the tranquil atmosphere of a Transmontane village that is simultaneously the gateway to the UNESCO Douro.

Dinner and Overnight Stay

Dinner at Restaurante Cêpa Torta — Rui Paula's first restaurant, now run by the couple António and Elisabete Ribeiro, maintaining the excellence of Douro cuisine with 25 years of history. Alternatives: Restaurante Veladouro, Cozinha da Clara, Maria Glória or Restaurante Pelourinho.

Overnight Stay: Casas da Faísca at Quinta da Faísca (Favaios) — contemporary accommodation on the plateau of the wine-producing village, overlooking the vineyards. Alternatives: Casa D’Arcã (country house in Alijó), Quinta Garcia or D’Ouro Relax.

Day 3 — Alijó: Favaios, Douro and the Union of Olive Oil and Wine

Morning: Favaios — Douro Wine Village

Start the day in Favaios, a Douro wine village and the capital of Moscatel. Visit Padaria da Rosália (Padaria Central) to taste the legendary four-cornered wheat bread, baked in a pine wood oven. Rosália Rocha Araújo, a baker since childhood with a fascinating life story, is an open book and one of the living treasures of this land.

Visit the Favaios Bread and Wine Museum — a space that preserves and interprets the traditions of bread and Moscatel, with a magnificent terrace overlooking the vineyards. Continue to the Favaios Cooperative Winery for a Moscatel tasting — including the famous Favaitos bottles, mini-doses of Moscatel known throughout Portugal.

Wine Tourism Experience

Visit to Quinta da Avessada, one of the leading wine tourism destinations in the Douro Valley. Here you can participate in harvests (September), enjoy guided tastings, and savor meals paired with views of the vineyards. It's an experience that perfectly complements olive oil tourism: olive oil and wine are the two great liquid treasures of this region.

Lunch

Lunch in the Pinhão area (parish of Alijó) — one of the most emblematic places in the Douro. Don't miss the Pinhão Station with its 20th-century tiles depicting winemaking life. For a premium gastronomic experience, Bomfim 1896 with Pedro Lemos at Quinta do Bomfim offers signature cuisine in the heart of the Douro.

Afternoon: Viewpoints and Olive Oil Tourism

After lunch, climb to the Casal de Loivos viewpoint — perhaps the most iconic view in the entire Douro Valley, with the river winding between terraced vineyards. Continue to the Ujo viewpoint, near the Tua Valley Natural Park, for another breathtaking perspective.

On the return, explore the northern part of the municipality of Alijó, where olive oil production is prominent: here the landscape changes character, becoming more rugged, with traditional olive groves producing Trás-os-Montes PDO olive oil. It's the meeting point between two worlds: the Douro wine region and the Trás-os-Montes olive-growing region.

If possible, visit an olive oil producer in the Alijó area for a tasting that allows you to compare Trás-os-Montes olive oils with the wines you tasted during the day—a unique sensory experience that reflects the duality of this territory.

Late Afternoon: Return

Return to your starting point with the certainty of having explored one of the most diverse and surprising territories in northern Portugal—where PDO olive oil, Douro wines, Trás-os-Montes gastronomy, and UNESCO heritage meet at every turn of the road.

Hiking Trails

• Sobira Trail (Murça): a route passing through vineyards and olive groves.

• Tinhela Trail (Murça): along the river, beautiful natural landscapes.

• Tinhela Footbridges (Murça): a spectacular route along the river with wooden footbridges.

• Trails in the Tua Valley Natural Park (Alijó): trails with views over the Tua Valley and the Douro River.

• Alijó Viewpoints: Casal de Loivos, Ujo, Senhora da Cunha (360°, the highest in the municipality), Santa Bárbara (on the Favaios plateau).