Date: 10th August 2019
Travelled: 58 kms from Guimarรฃes in the Province of Minho to Amarante in the Province of Douro
Visited: Amarante
Stayed: River-side car-park, free + B. N41.27333, W08.07358
Budget: 62 days @ โฌ80 per day
After servicing the Hymer, we roll out of Guimarรฃes relatively early, the GPS set for Amarante. We take the freeway to save some time and to hopefully arrive early enough to secure a parking spot. Amarante makes the Lonely Planet โHighlights of the Douroโ and being Saturday, I imagine it will be busy.
Amarante, Norte, Portugal
Map of Amarante, the icon on our parking spot
It takes some 20 minutes to travel 500m as drivers argue and fight over parking spots. We feel we have no chance, but we turn down just past the market to a lovely shaded car-park big enough for perhaps 20 cars and to our surprise itโs empty. Apparently the Portuguese donโt like walking up 20m to the market. We pick the plum spot, have a coffee before walking up into town.
We thought this statue was interesting purely on the fact it is not one of the Alfonzos. 
Another view of the Ponte de Sรฃo Gonรงalo, circa 1790.
Looking along the Rio Tรขmega to the east. 
Then to the west, a luxury hotel beyond.
Amaranteโs Igreja de Sรขn Gonรงalo, circa 1543. Famous for itโs Italian renaissance portal. 
You can zoom in and read about the church here.
So thatโs it weโve done Amarante. We both agree its a buzzy town with lots of character. I chat to our French neighbour and cook salmon for dinner. Pam is back into the Mateus once again, telling me it tastes better in Portugal than at home.
Michael and Pam
