Amarante's origin dates to the primitive peoples that hunted and gathered in the Serra da Aboboreira, sometime during the Stone Age, and extended during the Bronze Age and later the Romanization of the Iberian peninsula.
The first prominent building erected during the area of Amarante was likely the Albergaria do Covelo do Tâmega sometime in the 12th century, by order of Queen D. Mafalda, wife of D. Afonso Henriques. These types of shelter were constructed in small settlements and were used by travellers, especially the poor who transited the territory. Permanent settles fixed themselves around the local churches, such as the Church of São Veríssimo and Church of Lufrei, resulting in growth during the intervening years.
The urban agglomeration of Amarante became important and gained visibility with the arrival of Gonçalo (1187-1259) a Dominican friar who was born in Tagilde (Guimarães), who settled in the area following a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalém. He was instrumental in the development of the region, with many local structures attributed to his efforts, including the construction of the stone bridge across the Tâmega River. Following his death, Amarante became the destination of pilgrimages and grew substantially.
Amarante city , its river medieval bridge and general architecture
Amarante city, the riverside, medieval bridge, and its S.Gonçalo church facade
The main chapel and access to the tomb of Saint Gonçalo de Amarante
Amarante village, north of Portugal.
Pousada de S.Gonçalo is located in a closed curve of the old national road that connected Amarante to Vila real, in a natural viewpoint of the Alvão-Marão Natural Park, and was designed by the architect Rogério de Azevedo (1898-1983), having been ...
Opened in 1997, Amarante Golf was designed by the Portuguese architect, Jorge Santana da Silva, who successfully combined the necessary ingredients on the Amarantine route: Nature in the splendor of all its calm and beauty with 18 holes of pure ch...
The S. Gonçalo de Amarante convent was founded in 1540 by D. João III, and the first stone was laid in 1543 (by Frei João de Ledesma), beginning the works in the areas of annexes and services, bedrooms, dining rooms and sacristy . Its construction...
The name Amarante appears to come from the proper name Amarantus, but that would not necessarily be the Amaranth buried in S.Marcos. Amarantus was a relatively frequent personal name in the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. However, it is...
The name Amarante appears to come from the proper name Amarantus, but that would not necessarily be the Amaranth buried in S.Marcos. Amarantus was a relatively frequent personal name in the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. However, it is...
Built in the 18th century by the Third Order of S. Domingos, with a Baroque style facade and a centralized plan of reduced dimensions. In the eardrum of the entrance the Dominican arms. The access to its interior is made through a small atrium on ...
Built in the 18th century by the Third Order of S. Domingos, with a Baroque façade and centralized plan of reduced dimensions. In the eardrum of the entrance the Dominican arms. The access to its interior is made through a small atrium on which is...
Built in the 18th century by the Third Order of S. Domingos, with a Baroque style facade and a centralized plan of reduced dimensions. In the eardrum of the entrance the Dominican arms. The access to its interior is made through a small atrium on ...
The S. Gonçalo de Amarante convent was founded in 1540 by D. João III, and the first stone was laid in 1543 (by Frei João de Ledesma), beginning the works in the areas of annexes and services, bedrooms, dining rooms and sacristy . Its construction...
Main chapel, covered by a cradle vault of stone coffins, with a main altarpiece, over a crypt, forming, below, two chapels, with a stairway to the center of access to the upper level. Chapel on the side of the Gospel, with ashlar tiles of the 17th...
Chapel of S. Tiago in the Church of São Gonçalo, which had belonged to the Cerqueira Rabbits, knights of the Order of Santiago. This chapel was agreed, in 1564, between the Dominicans and Francisco Cerqueira, for the following: the friars of São G...
