The best cycling routes around Santa Cruz

Small hamlet in the middle of the park with approx. 100 inhabitants

The modern Sé Nova (Cathedral of Our Lady Queen) was inaugurated in 2001. It is located on Avenida Eng. Amaro da Costa, slightly outside the old town center (but only 1 km from the Sé Velha). It is the first cathedral built in Portugal in the 21st century. It has a contemporary and bold architecture (designed by the architect Vassalo Rosa), with a polygonal shape and a very spacious and bright interior. Behind the altar, there is a huge ceramic panel by the artist Mário Silva that is worth admiring.

Bragança Castle, located in northeastern Portugal, is one of the most impressive and well-preserved medieval castles in the country. Keep: At 33 meters high, it is one of the most imposing in Portugal. Inside, it houses the Bragança Military Museum, where you can see a vast collection of light weaponry, from the 12th century to the First World War. From the top of the tower, there is a breathtaking view over the old city, the new part of Bragança, and the surrounding mountains (Montesinho, Sanábria). The Princess Tower is an old residential outbuilding (Alcáçova Tower) famous for a tragic love legend. In the citadel, you can stroll through the streets within the walls, where the medieval atmosphere remains almost intact.

The Church of Santa Maria, also known as the Church of Our Lady of Sardão, is considered the oldest church in Bragança and is a must-see for anyone visiting the Citadel. Located within the walls, it is in a privileged setting, right next to the famous Domus Municipalis and a few steps from the castle's Keep. Baroque Facade: The entrance stands out for its beautiful portal flanked by two Solomonic (twisted) columns decorated with vines and bunches of grapes, a detail much praised by visitors. Pay particular attention to: The Painted Ceiling: Upon entering, look up. The ceiling of the central nave features a perspective painting (trompe-l'œil) representing the Assumption of the Virgin, full of vibrant colors. It is, without a doubt, the "wow" element of the interior. High Altar: Dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, with a 17th-century image. Also note the Figueiredos Chapel, rich in gilded woodcarving.

The Vinhais Biological Park is a protected natural area and conservation center located in the municipality of Vinhais, in northern Portugal, within the Montesinho Natural Park. This park plays an important role in the conservation of local biodiversity and in the promotion of environmental education.

This is a beautiful reservoir, with calm waters where you can even see large fish, although fishing is prohibited. On sunny days (which is almost always), the view over the lake is simply stunning. You can cycle along the entire western side of the lake.

Located in the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park, the Vinhais Biological Park invites you to discover the local landscape in all its forms, from fauna and flora to geology, culture and history. A space dedicated to conservation, biodiversity and ecotourism.

The Bragança Cathedral was designed by the architect Vassalo Rosa and was inaugurated in 2001, being the first cathedral built in the 21st century. It is a 10,000 square meter space, with seating arranged in an amphitheatre and a pentagonal design of the surrounding area, which distinguishes the contemporary architecture of the monument. Dedicated to Our Lady Queen, it reflects the region in which it is located, from the construction materials, the vegetation of the gardens and even the orientation of the doors. Inside, the tabernacle has the geographical shape of the district and the expression lines of Christ drawn on the ceramic panel by Mário Silva, behind the main altar, reveal a Northeastern style.