Valbom brings together a specific place in Portugal’s recent history and the artistic legacy of Júlio Resende. The Polis de Valbom footpath offers a different perspective: its endpoints are Ribeira de Abade and Gramido, and the Douro is nearby along the entire route. The themes are clearly distinct: a historical event, an art collection and a route with named endpoints each give your trip a different focus.

Casa Branca de Gramido: History and Museum

Casa Branca de Gramido has been classified as an Imóvel de Interesse Público (Property of Public Interest) since 2002. On 29 June 1847, the Convention of Gramido was signed here, a treaty that ended the last civil war in Portugal. The conflict lasted from 1846 to 1847: the date of the signing marks the specific day the agreement was made, while the years place the conflict in its historical context. Casa Branca is thus associated with a precisely dated event in Portuguese history. The building also houses the Museu Municipal da Filigrana. The history of the place and the museum therefore offer two distinct points of interest at the same address.

Júlio Resende and Lugar do Desenho

Júlio Resende chose Valbom as his home and set up his studio there. In the 1990s, he founded the foundation named after him here. Lugar do Desenho – Fundação Júlio Resende preserves a collection of around 2,000 drawings that the artist gathered over the course of his career. The foundation aims to preserve and promote the collection, as well as to serve as a cultural and artistic centre. Valbom’s connection to Resende is therefore both personal and institutional: his home and workplace sit alongside a foundation whose mission focuses on his drawings and making them accessible to the public.

Quinta do Passal in historic Gramido

Quinta do Passal brings a different place and use into focus. It is a former agricultural estate that was redeveloped as part of the Polis programme, and is located in the historic centre of Gramido in Valbom. Two periods come together here: its former agricultural use and its later redevelopment. This sets Quinta apart from Casa Branca, whose history is tied to a specific political event. Together, the two places show different aspects of Gramido: the history of a historic estate and the memory of the signing of the Convention.

Polis de Valbom: a footpath near the Douro

Polis de Valbom is a footpath between Ribeira de Abade and Gramido. The Douro is nearby along the entire route. The route’s two endpoints and its continuous connection to the river help visitors find their way. This sets it apart from the cultural sites, whose significance is tied to a historical event, a collection or a former estate.

Discover more destinations: Olival, Valadares, Avintes, Canelas, Sandim.

Return to the main travel overview: Vila Nova De Gaia.