On the left bank of the Douro, in the municipality of Castelo de Paiva and less than an hour’s drive from Porto, there are two places so close to each other that they were included together in the same network. Midões and Gondarém are located in the Raiva area; they feature houses made of schist, narrow cobblestone streets that wind up and down, and a view of the Douro that the City Council itself describes as breathtaking. Together, they share the designation of “Village of Portugal.”
Two villages, one designation
According to the “Aldeias de Portugal” network, the two villages submitted a single application and were therefore awarded the same designation. Between them lies the Chapel of Santo Ildefonso, which the network presents as a symbol of this connection.
Each has its own character. In Gondarém, what catches the eye are the schist houses, and the City Council highlights it as a great place for walking tours. Midões climbs up the hillside amid “enforcado” vineyards, where the vines grow attached to trees. Along the way, there are threshing floors, public washhouses, and baskets in the vegetable gardens.
From the fish sent to Rome to the silver mines
The history of these places stretches back a long way. The Douro River here was once teeming with lampreys and shad, and, according to the “Aldeias de Portugal” network, fish from this area were already being sent to the imperial court as far back as Roman times. Wine is nothing new here either: King Manuel’s charter of 1513 already mentioned the vineyards that climb in terraces along the banks of the Douro and Paiva rivers.
Later, mining arrived. The Terramonte Mines, which extracted zinc and lead, and the Companhia Portuguesa das Minas de Gondarém, which also mined silver, operated in the area. Today, they are decommissioned. The Raiva Pillory serves as a reminder that this land has a history dating back to the Middle Ages, and the granite arches of the Casa do Passadiço look like something out of a movie.
Things to Do Along the Douro River
In Gondarém, there is a dock on the Douro River. The “Aldeias de Portugal” network also mentions a small, shaded riverside beach near the river, complete with a terrace and a swing, for those who want to take a break.
For those who enjoy hiking, both villages lie along the Payva D’Ouro Trails, a 14-km route along the banks of the Douro that begins at the Choupal river beach in Pedorido and continues to Santa Maria de Sardoura. The project received support from European funds, according to the European Commission. The area also features the PP10 – Schist Villages trail.
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