A trip to Oliveira Do Douro can focus on different things: river landscapes, village settings and historic buildings. Boassas lies above the Douro, the Pala Reservoir and the Bestança Valley. These landscape features provide a tangible setting for the village’s history.

Rivers and landscape

The Rio Bestança is about 13.5 kilometres long. At Porto Antigo, it flows into the left bank of a Douro reservoir between the municipalities of Oliveira Do Douro and Cinfães. The river is part of the Natura 2000 network and is classified as a Corine Biotope 1. It is considered a river with clear water and diverse wildlife.

The Rio Cabrum offers a different perspective: it rises near the Serra de Montemuro and flows into the Douro in the Oliveira Do Douro area. It is considered suitable for canyoning and other adventure sports. The two rivers therefore differ both in their courses and in the activities associated with them.

The Miradouro e Parque de Merendas da Trincheira offers views of the river, as well as an area for relaxation and socialising. The Cais de Porto Antigo in Oliveira Do Douro is designated as a departure point for boat trips on the Douro. If you are planning a trip, check the latest departure times in advance.

Boassas: village layout and crafts

Arribada is the oldest part of Boassas. It reflects a strong Mediterranean influence and the Arab-Islamic presence in the Douro region. You can explore Boassas via its narrow streets and typical courtyards, decorated with flowers in colourful containers. The streets and courtyards convey the village’s architecture, traditions and legends.

Crafts are also part of the village’s character. Latoaria (tinworking) is considered one of the few traditional crafts still practised in Boassas. Basketry uses willow rods, chestnut rods, straw and blackberry stems. Ceramics are also associated with local development. These various crafts offer a glimpse of the village’s artisanal and cultural aspects without needing to be grouped under a single craft.

Buildings from different periods

The Casa do Fundo da Rua is an 18th-century house with a coat of arms that belonged to the Serpa family. The Casa da Calçada also brings together several periods: it was built in the 18th century and given a neoclassical extension towards the end of that same century. Its main façade faces the Rio Douro. The Casa do Cubo is in Boassas, next to the chapel on the edge of Arribada.

The Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Estrela in Boassas also has a long history. It was founded in the 16th century and rebuilt in 1710. The Church of São Miguel de Oliveira Do Douro adds two medieval dates to this historical picture: in 1294, it was incorporated into the holdings of the Mosteiro de Santo André de Ancede; in 1391, the right of patronage was added to the earlier gift to the monastery. Ownership and patronage refer to different stages in this history.

Routes with different points of reference

The Caminho da Fonte da Pedra is considered one of Boassas’s most characteristic routes. One route starts in Boassas and initially follows the hillside halfway up, with panoramic views of the Douro. It then leads to the church in Oliveira Do Douro and continues along the route to the castle as far as Vila Nova. The views, the church and the continuation to Vila Nova are the route’s named points of reference. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus more on Boassas’s village layout, historic buildings, or rivers and routes.

Discover more destinations: Cinfães, Gralheira.

Go to the main travel overview: Cinfães.