The municipality of Fafe is located in the North of our country, in the district of Braga, and is 40 minutes from Porto and less than 15 minutes from Guimarães. The Capital of Rali, as it is known, is located on the banks of two Vizela and Ferro rivers, being recognized for its gastronomy, heritage and natural landscapes of great beauty.
An example of landscape diversity and natural beauty is Albufeira da Barragem da Queimadela, with an area of 11 hectares, which guarantees us stunning views and an excellent tourist experience. Ao longo das its margins, find a river beach, a passadiço, picnic parks.
As their waters are ideas for the practice of non-polluting nautical sports. And, as everything is not enough, there are small pedestrian trails here, a Sports Fishing Concession Zone and a Camping and Caravanning Park. The space receives, for the second consecutive year, the Blue Band award, which attests to the quality of its waters and the infrastructures that support visitors.
The river beach has free parking spaces (three of them along the water line are reserved for people with limited mobility), pedestrian access and access ramp to the area. It also has adapted toilets, a support bar, a first aid post, the possibility of accommodating nautical equipment and daily surveillance.
In addition to all these facilities, the river beach also has an amphibious chain, which allows people with limited mobility to enter the water safely, as support for two swimmers-saviors. It is not to be admired, therefore, that the place proudly holds the award of “Praia Acessível”.
Next to the beach, it is possible to visit places such as Aldeia do Pontido, which was completely rebuilt keeping the original architectural trace, and using traditional materials.
Also, it is possible to go from the praia fluvial da barragem de Queimadela até to Aldeia do Pontido through two walkways that surround Albufeira. Next to the village there is a succession of waterfalls of rare beauty that deserve to be contemplated calmly.
The passages continue over hundreds of meters, always surrounding Albufeira. A little more to the front, it transforms into a dirt track that always runs in the shade of trees than ladeiam or path, being also possible to take a walk around this artificial lake.
The mills and pisão of this village are also reconstructed and can be visited. There are many places of interest to visit in this council, such as Casa do Penedo, Igreja Românica de Arões and Museu do Rali.
If you prefer a greater contact with nature, you will have the possibility of carrying out numerous pedestrian walks through the Fafe mountain range. And finally, Fafe cannot be lost if it is its Brazilian architecture, with emphasis on the Jardim do Calvário, or Teatro Cinema and Casa da Cultura.
Be willing to drive more than a little and possibly make a visit to various cities in the roundabouts. Braga, Guimarães and Amarante are the most obvious choices, since each of them deserves, even less, a whole day to be contemplated.
Ribeira de Pena also does not last long and it is possible to take the little ones to the Pena Aventura Park, a place where we can carry out various activities that will be done so that one day they become much more pre-enchipped and special.
If you are accompanied by a group of friends and want to do something more radical, you can also climb the most beautiful river Poio, in the town of Cerva, also in Ribeira de Pena. The suit is considered very difficult and requires extra care.
When it comes to gastronomy, you don’t have to worry: you will be able to find numerous restaurants in the area that serve delicious food. Do not perch a vellum roasted in the fashion of Fafe – it is a dish that you will feel very saudades when your visit ends, it is so good!
