4 Seasons in Ponte de Lima
Description
The owner of a history over centuries, one of the most visited towns in Portugal, famous for its magnificent roman and medieval bridge, welcoming you to each season with a countless number of attractions, miraculously combining tradition and modernity.
We advise you to purchase a memory card for the camera with great volume, because beauty is… in absolutely every corner.
We advise you to purchase a memory card for the camera with great volume, because beauty is… in absolutely every corner.
Spring
During Springtime, Ponte de Lima is transformed into a fragrant floral aromas of the several gardens. The air is remarkably clean and fresh. Pay attention, this is were magic happens: the updated nature pleases the eye with bright, rich colors, and the refined ear ringing chirping of birds.
After months spent curled up inside by the fire, spring means getting back out into nature and seeing the world wake up again. Trust us: once you start, you’ll want to keep going, and going, and going…
Days tends to be milder and sunnier and become noticeably longer with plenty of daylight hours to enjoy the great outdoors. May is also a month of celebrations, kicking off with some traditional festivities and the opening of International Garden Festival. Concerts, theatre are also highlights for cultural entertainment available in Diogo Bernardes Theather.
See Ponte de Lima come alive with a million spring blooms on several gardens around all town.
Don't miss: Arnado Theme Park, Monte da Madalena Park, Town Park, Terceiros Garden, Dr. Adelino Sampaio Garden, Sebastião Sanhudo Garden, Plane Tree Avenue … are some of many places to apreciate or simply to rest.
After months spent curled up inside by the fire, spring means getting back out into nature and seeing the world wake up again. Trust us: once you start, you’ll want to keep going, and going, and going…
Days tends to be milder and sunnier and become noticeably longer with plenty of daylight hours to enjoy the great outdoors. May is also a month of celebrations, kicking off with some traditional festivities and the opening of International Garden Festival. Concerts, theatre are also highlights for cultural entertainment available in Diogo Bernardes Theather.
See Ponte de Lima come alive with a million spring blooms on several gardens around all town.
Don't miss: Arnado Theme Park, Monte da Madalena Park, Town Park, Terceiros Garden, Dr. Adelino Sampaio Garden, Sebastião Sanhudo Garden, Plane Tree Avenue … are some of many places to apreciate or simply to rest.
Summer
Summer is a time for family vacations, sunnier and warmer days with friends, perfect time to explore Ponte de Lima diversity, one of its greatest charms,
is the ability to remain authentic and genuine in their day-to-day and in their traditions.
You will never be alone and you will have many leads to follow, after all an empty festivity doesn’t make for lively fun. In early July, the Horse Fair, an horse riding tradition in the region and without doubt the largest event of its type held in the north of Portugal. This event transforms the Expolima area into a giant riding ring, against the backdrop of River Lima.
You will still get caught in several local festivities along all Summer and over the second weekend of September, when the most hot summer starts to prepare its departure, Ponte de Lima decks itself out for its main anual festival – Feiras Novas. Held since 1826 in honour of Nossa Senhora das Dores, Feiras Novas offer the inhabitants of Ponte de Lima and thousands of visitors, five days and five nights of colour, joy, revelry and music. Besides music, folk, dancing, fireworks, there are also live-stock competitions, horse races, ethnoghrafic and historic parades, bands, masked dancers known as ‘gigantones and cabeçudos’, traditional drums bands and the procession that closes the cycle of Summer religious festivals in Alto Minho.
Don't miss: Summer Festivals, Feiras Novas, Horse Fair, endeless and harm days with family and friends.
You will never be alone and you will have many leads to follow, after all an empty festivity doesn’t make for lively fun. In early July, the Horse Fair, an horse riding tradition in the region and without doubt the largest event of its type held in the north of Portugal. This event transforms the Expolima area into a giant riding ring, against the backdrop of River Lima.
You will still get caught in several local festivities along all Summer and over the second weekend of September, when the most hot summer starts to prepare its departure, Ponte de Lima decks itself out for its main anual festival – Feiras Novas. Held since 1826 in honour of Nossa Senhora das Dores, Feiras Novas offer the inhabitants of Ponte de Lima and thousands of visitors, five days and five nights of colour, joy, revelry and music. Besides music, folk, dancing, fireworks, there are also live-stock competitions, horse races, ethnoghrafic and historic parades, bands, masked dancers known as ‘gigantones and cabeçudos’, traditional drums bands and the procession that closes the cycle of Summer religious festivals in Alto Minho.
Don't miss: Summer Festivals, Feiras Novas, Horse Fair, endeless and harm days with family and friends.
Autumn
As most people are back at work by this time of year, but for those which have some days to rest, autumn is perfect for thrillseekers to head outdoors.
The trees turn golden and this is easily the best time of year to harvest. The days are becoming shorter, the weather may still bring sunny days but the night already asks for a light coat.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Protected Landscape Area of Lagoas de Bertiandos e São Pedro d’Arcos, a national landmark in terms of environmental education and nature conservation, covering a total area of around 350 ha. It has excelent support infrastructures ina wide range areas, notably, the Educational Pentieiros Farm, the Environmental Interpretation Centre or the observation towers and posts.
One of the top activities you must see or live is the fortnightly market, that happens every two weeks, on Monday (locals call the other bachelor Mondays) on the left bank of the river, the oldest market of Portugal is still held without fail.
Ponte de Lima is also the birthplace of the famous writters such as António Feijó, Delfim de Brito Guimarães, Teófilo Carneiro and Domingos Tarroso. You can search the Route of Writers from Ponte de Lima, that leds though the houses and monuments in town associated to a vast galaxy of literati.
Don't miss: outdoors, Protected Landscape Area of Lagoas de Bertiandos e São Pedro d’Arcos, fortnightly market, and thematic itineraries.
The trees turn golden and this is easily the best time of year to harvest. The days are becoming shorter, the weather may still bring sunny days but the night already asks for a light coat.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Protected Landscape Area of Lagoas de Bertiandos e São Pedro d’Arcos, a national landmark in terms of environmental education and nature conservation, covering a total area of around 350 ha. It has excelent support infrastructures ina wide range areas, notably, the Educational Pentieiros Farm, the Environmental Interpretation Centre or the observation towers and posts.
One of the top activities you must see or live is the fortnightly market, that happens every two weeks, on Monday (locals call the other bachelor Mondays) on the left bank of the river, the oldest market of Portugal is still held without fail.
Ponte de Lima is also the birthplace of the famous writters such as António Feijó, Delfim de Brito Guimarães, Teófilo Carneiro and Domingos Tarroso. You can search the Route of Writers from Ponte de Lima, that leds though the houses and monuments in town associated to a vast galaxy of literati.
Don't miss: outdoors, Protected Landscape Area of Lagoas de Bertiandos e São Pedro d’Arcos, fortnightly market, and thematic itineraries.
Winter
Even when it rains there’s still no reason to be disappointed as there are lots of great indoor attractions to explore like museums, art exhibitions or wineries.
Even when weather is cooler, but still very comfortable temperatures, you can take part in lots of fantastic outdoor activities like hiking, bird watching, cycling, golf and more. Gastronomy is always present and the most traditional dish in the tasty cuisine is ‘Arroz de Sarrabulho’ – a rice dish served with marinated pork – rich in flavour and tradition.
And don’t forget the magical Christmas lights around all town and the family activities available during this season.
New Year brings also romance on Valentine’s Day, and there is nothing more romantic than whisking your loved one away for a stay at the several manor houses, enjoying quality time, having a luxury meal or sit by the fire and feel like royalty with a luxurious break.
Don’t miss: tasty gastronomy, museums, exhibitions, Christmas lights, outdoor activities.
Even when weather is cooler, but still very comfortable temperatures, you can take part in lots of fantastic outdoor activities like hiking, bird watching, cycling, golf and more. Gastronomy is always present and the most traditional dish in the tasty cuisine is ‘Arroz de Sarrabulho’ – a rice dish served with marinated pork – rich in flavour and tradition.
And don’t forget the magical Christmas lights around all town and the family activities available during this season.
New Year brings also romance on Valentine’s Day, and there is nothing more romantic than whisking your loved one away for a stay at the several manor houses, enjoying quality time, having a luxury meal or sit by the fire and feel like royalty with a luxurious break.
Don’t miss: tasty gastronomy, museums, exhibitions, Christmas lights, outdoor activities.
