Mondim de Basto & Amarante

Sanctuaries & table

At 947 metres above sea level, on the summit of Monte Farinha, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace rises like a beacon over the landscape. Around you, only the sounds of nature, crisp air and a sea of trees stretching towards a horizon that seems endless.

Devotion on the mountaintop

It’s no surprise this is one of the North’s most important places of worship. When the path was walked on foot, it was faith that led many pilgrims to the top — families, friends and neighbours climbing together to honour Our Lady of Grace. Especially during the patronal festivities, when the communal bond continued later at the table, with Portugal’s celebratory dish par excellence: wood-fired roasted kid.

Roast kid: symbol and celebration

Prized for its tender, aromatic meat, kid — a costly animal — signalled abundance and prosperity. It is also deeply linked to Catholic tradition: in the Bible, the sacrifice of a young lamb or kid — innocent and pure — represents the perfect offering to God.

What you’ll live

• Guided visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace.
• Wood-fired roast kid for lunch in a cosy, family-run Minho restaurant.
• Visit to the Castle of Arnoia with panoramic views over the Tâmega valley.
• Walk through Amarante’s historic centre, including the São Gonçalo Bridge and church.

We begin by following in the pilgrims’ footsteps to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace. After passing through Mondim de Basto, we pause at Ponte de Matamá to take in the Tâmega River and the surrounding scenery. In Celorico de Basto, enjoy the traditional wood-fired roast kid at a welcoming, family-run restaurant.

We then continue to the Castle of Arnoia, a medieval sentinel perched on a hilltop with sweeping views of the fertile valley. We finish in Amarante, crossing the iconic São Gonçalo Bridge and visiting the church-monastery that blends Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance and Baroque styles, and houses the tomb of the city’s patron saint.