Known as the ‘Xangri-la of Minho’ due to its unspoiled beauty and remote location, the village of Sistelo is a true rural paradise ideal for visiting during the longest days of spring. ‘Hidden’ in a valley, the village has become especially famous for being called ‘little Portuguese Tibet’.
Belonging to the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez, in the heart of the Alto Minho, Sistelo is a natural gem that impresses with its terraces and enchanted José Saramago himself (Nobel Prize for Literature). Less than two hours by car from Porto, a total of 120 km, let’s set off to discover this destination.
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What is the origin of the name ‘Portuguese Tibet’?
The town in Minho has already been featured in an article in National Geographic and in the ‘Best Hidden Pearls in Europe’ list of the ‘European Best Destinations‘ portal. In particular, the fascination it exerts on visitors is due to its stunning landscape.
In this context, the terraces stand out. These are agricultural structures built over the centuries to cultivate the mountainous land. Due to their layout, the scenery reminds us of a ‘little Tibet’. And indeed, as if it were a time, this place deserves a lot of contemplation.
What to see on a trip to Sistelo?
When you arrive in Sistelo, get ready to leave your car in one of the parking lots at the edge of the parish. Then you just have to walk up and down one of the ‘7 Natural Wonders of Portugal’, a distinction awarded in 2017.
There, of course, the terraces are one of the main tourist attractions, deserving of many photographs from the local viewpoints. However, they’re not the only reason to set off to discover this Minho gem. So take note:
- Casa do Castelo do Sistelo – a revivalist mansion built in the 19th century, which belonged to the first Viscount of Sistelo, Manuel A. Gonçalves Roque and today serves as an interpretive center
- Granaries that bear witness to a communal past
- Traditional granite houses that tell stories of other times
- Cruises and public fountains
- Viewpoints to better appreciate a landscape that looks like something out of a painting
- Sistelo Trail
- The Ecovia do Vez is 32 km long and one of the sections begins or ends precisely in Sistelo.
The words of José Saramago
In his emblematic work “Journey to Portugal”, José Saramago takes us through the territory from north to south, uncovering undiscovered charms, such as Sistelo.
The Nobel Prize winner fell in love with this area of Alto Minho and wrote:
(…) This river Vez, at the height of Sistelo, which is where the traveler reaches, and then the river Cabreiro that flows into it, are true wonders that combine sweetness and roughness, the harmony of the green terraces and the stoniness of the waters, under the fortune of a light that begins to descend and cuts, line by line, color by color, the most beautiful landscape that fits in the imagination. The traveler places next to it what his memory holds.”
How to get there from Porto?
As we’ve already mentioned, the village is more than 120 km away from Porto, which is equivalent to a drive of more than 1h30. In fact, the most practical way to get there is by car.
The best way to do this is to drive to Arcos de Valdevez and follow the EN 202 and CM1243. Until you get there, the road is well signposted, so it’s unlikely that you’ll lose your way.
If you’re looking for an authentic destination in the heart of Minho, where nature and human coexistence go hand in hand, Sistelo is the ideal place for your next getaway!