Ribeira de Pena

The municipality of Ribeira de Pena, integrated into the district of Vila Real, is crossed by the river Tâmega. With its deep valleys and varied landscapes, the municipality is nicknamed by many as “Sintra from Trás-os-Montes”.

Ribeira de Pena is a municipality rich in archaeological remains, an example of different occupations, from the Neolithic to the Castreja culture, emphasising the castros of Cabriz and Lesenho.

There are still examples from the Roman occupation, such as the Ara à Jupiter, placed on a wall in the Church of Santa Marinha, the Ara do Concelho and the Monetary Treasury of Terra Nova.

With the end of the Roman Empire, new people settled in the territory. Necropolises of tombs excavated in the rock, anthropomorphic or rectangular in shape, are testimonies of this transitional period. “Frequently found on rocks and source of various legends are the engravings known as “cantinhos”, with probable origin in the Middle Ages”.

The first charter of Ribeira de Pena dates from 1331, granted by D. Afonso IV, the second being conferred by D. Manuel I. “D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, the Constable, by his marriage to D. Leonor Alvim, from Pedraça, owned several properties in the municipality and Quinta da Temporã was included in the donation to his daughter in marriage with the bastard son of D. João I, the origin of the House from Braganza”.

At the time of the administrative reform in the 19th century, the municipality was about to be extinguished. Still, in 1853, it remained on the new map of municipalities, with the parishes of Canedo and Fiães do Tâmega being annexed, the latter later integrated into the municipality of Boticas.

Agriculture and livestock are the main economic activities in the region, which is rich in gastronomy. River fish, kid, Maronesa veal, corn, cabbage with beans, sweet black pudding and sweet serrabulho, are some of the main delicacies that have led many tourists to visit the county.

The region’s rich landscape has attracted many visitors looking for nature, culture, physical exercise and leisure activities. Thus, the municipality of Ribeira de Pena offers a set of unique pedestrian routes such as “O Caminho do Abade”, “A Levada de Stº Aleixo”, and “Route along the Póio River”, authentic attractions for nature lovers.