The little town of Amarante (altitude: 125m/410ft.) lies picturesquely on both sides of the Rio Tâmega, on the northwest slopes of the Serra de Marao, about 70km/43mi east of Oporto.
Townscape
The old part of the town has a number of fine burghers' houses of the 16th-18th C., most of them roofed with shingles and surrounded by wooden balconies
The best view of this part of town and the beautiful 18th C. bridge over the Rio Tâmega, the Ponte de Sao Gonçalo, is from the new bridge or one of the cafe terraces on the south bank of the river.
The bridge in Amarante is a popular attraction to visit. Amarante is also particularly popular for its pastries and sweet delicacies.