A quartzite ridge shaped by people over millennia gives Murça an unusual historical landmark: Crasto de Palheiros, also known as Fragada do Castro. From the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC to the present day, the region’s inhabitants have shaped and built on this ridge. During the Chalcolithic period, between 2900 and 2300 BC, the 2.5-hectare quartzite ridge was transformed into a large stone monument. In the Iron Age, the site was used again as a settlement; it remained in use for about 500 years and was abandoned towards the end of the 1st century AD. Different chapters in the history of settlement can therefore be found side by side at this site.
Traces in Stone and History
Roman history can also be traced in Murça through its structures and roads. A Roman road ran through Murça, connecting Astorga with the mouth of the Douro and crossing the Tinhela. The Ponte e Calçada Romana was built by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago and was used and maintained continuously thereafter. The bridge thought to be the original Roman one was replaced by another in the second half of the 16th century. To reach the Ponte e Calçada Romana, take a road branching off to the right from the EN15 at kilometre 145; another access point is by the Escola Profissional de Murça.
The Igreja Matriz de Murça features gilded carved altarpieces, a 16th-century triptych by Pedro de França, a crucified Christ and a Gothic depiction. The present church was rebuilt and extended around 1734 after an earlier chapel was destroyed by fire. On Praça 5 de Outubro, also known as Praça Velha, the manor house Paços do Concelho occupies the entire north wing. The Pelourinho Manuelino de Murça, a 16th-century monument, stands out for its twisted shaft, capital with heraldic symbols and five twisted pinnacles. It was included in the first Portuguese decree of 1910 classifying historic buildings as National Monuments.
The Porca de Murça is a stone Berrão statue dating from the Iron Age. It may be associated with Celtic fertility cults. Another archaeological feature is the group of three Mamoas near Mamoa do Castelo in the village of Castelo, in the parish of Jou: at an altitude of 709 metres, they stand out clearly against the plateau landscape. They are 500 metres from the Castro; one appears to be intact.
Riverbanks, Forests and Trails
Serra da Garraia is a green, granite-dominated woodland landscape. The trails along the Tua and Tinhela offer other ways to experience nature. The Trilho da Sobreira follows the right bank of the Tua to the village of Sobreira, then continues to the Miradouro Casa da Floresta viewpoint. It is in Sobreira, next to an old forest house, in a newly reforested area, overlooking the Tua.
Two routes follow the Tinhela in different ways. The Trilho do Tinhela runs along the left bank to near the river’s mouth and passes thermal springs. It is in the Microrreserva do Rio Tinhela, where you can see forests, riverside woodland and aquatic habitats. The Trilho dos Passadiços do Tinhela features wooden boardwalks and small observation points along the river landscape. This circular trail starts and ends at the Porta de Entrada de Murça of the Parque Natural Regional do Vale do Tua.
The approximately 240-kilometre Caminho Português de Santiago de Leon de Rosmithal also combines nature, religious heritage and history. One important detail for planning your route: the trail is currently not signposted and can only be followed using GPS. If you are interested in stargazing, Crasto de Palheiros in the Vale do Tua is considered one of five particularly suitable places to observe planets, stars and constellations.
Sweet Traditions and Events
Traditional sweets include Queijadas de Murça, a convent pastry made with dough of flour, eggs, water, salt and fat. The filling is made with sugar, egg yolks, pumpkin jam, almonds and cinnamon; the recipe is preserved by Murça’s confectioners. Toucinho-do-Céu is also part of the local culinary heritage. The original recipe is thought to have originated in Murça; the sweet is considered a tradition of the Benedictine nuns, who lived for centuries in a convent of São Bento in Murça until the end of the 19th century.
Murça is in the demarcated Douro wine region. The municipality’s agricultural products include wine, olive oil and honey; its olive groves are associated with the Rota de Azeite. The Feira do Azeite e do Vinho takes place every year on the second weekend of May. The Feira de Murça dates back to a medieval market charter issued by D. Dinis on 18 April 1304, and takes place on the 13th and 28th of every month. If you would like to time your visit to coincide with a market or festival, check the dates before you travel.
Murça’s largest summer pilgrimage festival is dedicated to Nosso Senhor dos Aflitos and takes place on the second weekend of July. The Miradouro de São Domingos offers a different perspective on the landscape: from there, the view stretches across Murça and the surrounding vineyards and olive groves. Caldas de Santa Maria Madalena, popularly known as Termas de Carlão, is in the municipality of Murça; it has been used since time immemorial and is associated with recognised therapeutic properties. Rampa de Murça, meanwhile, is a motorsport event in the Portuguese National Hill Climb Championship.
Discover more destinations: Murça, Candedo, Noura, Armamar, Peso Da Régua, Montalegre, Mesão Frio, Sabrosa.
See the wider travel overview: Vila Real.
