Easy hikes and walks around Vila Chã De Braciosa

At number 4 you have a truly magnificent view of the reservoir.

The Pisón Stream Bridge in Fariza is part of one of the most iconic hiking trails in the Arribes del Duero Natural Park: the Mills Route. It is a medieval bridge, possibly with a Roman base, that crosses the Pisón Stream, a tributary that fed numerous flour mills in the area.

The Hermitage of the Virgen del Castillo in Fariza, Zamora, is a place of great historical, spiritual, and scenic value, nestled in the heart of the Arribes del Duero Natural Park. It sits atop a hill, offering spectacular views of the Duero canyon, right on the natural border between Spain and Portugal. Nearby is the Mirador de la Virgen del Castillo, considered one of the most beautiful in the Arribes.

The Mirador de las Barrancas, located in Fariza, in the province of Zamora, is one of the most spectacular spots in the Arribes del Duero Natural Park. It offers stunning views of the Duero River canyon, which marks the natural border between Spain and Portugal. A granite landscape with unique rock formations and a microclimate that favors Mediterranean crops such as olive trees, vineyards, and almond trees. Spot birds of prey, such as the griffon vulture and the golden eagle, which are very common in the area.

The first bishops of Miranda had to live in the Castle. It was only in 1601 that construction began on the Episcopal Palace and the Seminary. When it was completed, more than a century later, its opulence was no less than that of the Cathedral, whose Renaissance style it imitated. The Palace was built around a central courtyard, surrounded by a cloister with lowered arcades, on monolithic columns. And, although badly damaged by successive fires during the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the definitive transfer of the seat of the Diocese to Bragança, in 1780, that caused it to fall into rapid ruin. The shadow of its monumentality can still be seen today in the cloister and on the portico of the Seminary. However, despite its state of ruin, its symbolic power remains because the bishops always continued to engrave their names on the respective memorial, at the entrance to the Renaissance portico of the first Episcopal Palace of the Diocese.

The castle of Miranda do Douro was built during a second period of settlement and ordering in Trás-os-Montes, which occurred during the reign of King Dinis. The first kings had provided this vast region with administrative units protected by Romanesque castles, called Terras, whose mission was to establish royal authority in an area of the kingdom that was notoriously peripheral. Over time, this power structure proved to be inadequate and King Afonso III initiated a different policy, the most visible of which was the founding of new urban towns. In the territory of Miranda do Douro, the new town was founded by King Dinis in 1286, thus culminating in the transfer of power from the old castle of Algoso, which had been the capital of the land until that date.

Beautiful views of the Duero and its Arribes.

The Episcopal Palace, where the Bishop of Miranda do Douro resided, was once an imposing construction. Today, only the arches of the old cloister remain, which have been integrated into a garden area ideal for strolling and relaxing. The Co-Cathedral, also known as the Sé de Miranda do Douro, was built in the 16th century and served as a cathedral until 1780, when the episcopal seat was moved to Braganza. This building stands out for its Renaissance architecture and its impressive Baroque altarpiece. It also houses a locally beloved figure, the Menino Jesus da Cartolinha.