Cinfães in 3D

Cinfães is a municipality in Viseu district, in the Tâmega e Sousa sub-region, on the south bank of the Douro, which forms its northern boundary. It covers about 239 km² and had roughly 17,700 inhabitants at the 2021 census, spread over 14 parishes. It borders Marco de Canaveses (to the north, across the river), Castro Daire and Arouca (to the south) and, to the east and west, Resende and Castelo de Paiva; Baião also lies across the Douro to the north.

The territory is split between the Douro valley and the Serra de Montemuro, whose highest point, Talegre, reaches 1,382 metres. Rivers such as the Bestança, the Paiva and the Cabrum shape the landscape. The municipality itself describes Cinfães as a "land of nature, culture and traditions".

What to see and do

• Romanesque heritage: the municipality is part of the Romanesque Route (Rota do Românico). The churches most often cited are Tarouquela (a National Monument, 12th-13th century), São Cristóvão de Nogueira (late Romanesque, with wooden coffered ceilings) and Escamarão, in the parish of Souselo.
• Serpa Pinto Museum, in the town of Cinfães, opened in 2000 and dedicated to the explorer Serpa Pinto, with books, telegrams and personal objects, plus archaeological finds.
• Ancient remains: the Castro das Coroas, a fortified Bronze Age settlement later Romanised, and the Muralha das Portas de Montemuro, a large stone structure on the mountain top whose purpose is still debated.
• The Douro: the municipal tourism portal mentions boat trips departing from Porto Antigo (Oliveira do Douro) and Escamarão (Souselo).
• Rivers and swimming: according to a 2019 news report, the Cinfães bathing areas include the Cais de Escamarão (Douro) and spots on the Bestança such as Cinco Rodas and Parque de Pias. Please check with the municipality which ones are in use, and tested, when you visit.
• Nature: the Bestança valley, with waterfalls, and the Marcelim Nature Observatory, with views over the Bestança and Douro valleys. On the Serra de Montemuro there are walking routes and mountain biking and, on the Paiva, rafting, according to the municipal portal.

Food and local products

The Arouquesa cattle breed is raised on the Serra de Montemuro, and posta arouquesa features in local cooking. Other specialities mentioned include wood-oven roast kid, torresmos (crackling), lamprey rice, matulos (butter sweets) and chestnut sweets. As for wine, the municipality is associated with vinho verde.

Festivals and fairs

The patron saint is John the Baptist, and the municipal holiday is 24 June, marked by the Festas de São João. In summer the Expo Montemuro takes place, a food and crafts fair. Please check with the municipality for each year's dates.

Where to stay

Our catalogue lists 18 places to stay in Cinfães: 13 in the town of Cinfães and 1 in Ferreiros de Tendais. See the list of accommodation on this page; ratings come from Booking.com guest reviews.