Santa Marta de Penaguião in 3D

Santa Marta de Penaguião is a municipality in the Vila Real district, in the Douro sub-region, covering about 69 km² with seven parishes. It borders Vila Real, Peso da Régua, Baião and Amarante and, according to the 2021 census, had about 6,100 inhabitants.

The area is closely tied to the history of Douro wine: it was one of the first municipalities covered by the Pombaline demarcation of 1756, and the municipality presents itself as the birthplace of the Demarcated Douro Region. The landscape is one of terraced vineyards, with the Serra do Marão nearby.

What to see and do

• Viewpoints: the municipality has nine viewpoints, among them Senhora dos Remédios, Santa Bárbara da Cumieira, São Pedro de Fontes, Viso and Fial (São João de Lobrigos), with views over the terraces.
• Caves Santa Marta: the cooperative was founded in 1959 as the Adega Cooperativa de Santa Marta and in 1987 merged definitively with the Cumieira and Medrões cooperatives (created in 1960). The municipality also lists the Museu das Caves Santa Marta.
• Praia Fluvial de Fornelos: in the parish of Louredo e Fornelos, on the Rio Aguilhão, this is a natural pool formed by a weir, opened on 12 July 1998, with a grassy area, toilets and a bar.
• Nature: local tourism sources point to the Fraga da Ermida, in the Serra do Marão, as a place of landscape and nature.
• Heritage and culture: the town pillory, the Casa do Cantoneiro and the Idades da Terra interpretive centre. The Caminho Interior de Santiago (Interior Way of St James) also crosses the area.
• Churches and crafts: religious sites listed include the Chapel of Santa Marta and the Church of São João de Lobrigos; local crafts include black clay pottery.

Wine and food

According to the municipality, Santa Marta is the patron saint of the Demarcated Douro Region. The municipality lists more than a dozen wine producers, from small quintas to large cellars. Traditional dishes mentioned by tourism sources include bean rice with codfish pataniscas and roast kid with rice cooked in a wood-fired oven.

Getting there

The town lies on the Estrada Nacional 2 (EN2), between Vila Real and Peso da Régua. One travel guide gives about 106 km from Porto; please check the route and journey time before you set out.

When to go

According to a travel guide, the town comes alive during the grape harvest, but the municipality can be visited all year round. Check with the municipality for event dates.

Where to stay

Our catalogue has 12 lodgings: nine in Santa Marta de Penaguião and the rest in Loureiro, Alvações do Corgo and Vila Real. See the list of lodgings on this page; ratings come from Booking.com guests.