Provesende is one of the magnificent villages belonging to the Alto Douro Vinhateiro, marked by beautiful landscapes and unique buildings. A trip to the past.
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the village of Provesende stay in Alto Douro Vinhateiro, in Sabrosa. One of its attractions undoubtedly has to do with its location, at the top of the plateau, which allows you to have the best views over the Douro River and the magnificent wine region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In addition, the center of Provesende is rich in built and landscape heritage, so at every corner it is possible to admire both the manor houses and emblazoned houses, and the historic temples and churches.
This, not to mention the festivities and traditions that this village preserves and that make it a unique destination for a different and very pleasant weekend.
What to expect from Provesende?
What stands out most about Provesende is the impeccable way in which everything is preserved and in the best conditions for anyone visiting this village. Heritage is valued and attests to the care and affection with which its people treat what, after all, belongs to everyone.
The centuries-old houses and buildings remain in complete harmony with the whole complex, so visiting this village is like traveling back in time, without losing sight of modernity and evolution.
Also because, soon, the Museum of Phylloxera is expected to be created there, since it was precisely in this village that the fight against this great plague that in the 19th century affected the vineyards of the Douro began.
Main attractions of Provesende
Solar
Provesende is rich in houses with coats of arms that attest to the passage of noble families through this village. In addition to the architectural interest of these buildings, the history of these houses is worth discovering and knowing for anyone visiting this region.
Casa da Calçada, for example, is one of the most popular because it is said that there is a boy who was embalmed about two centuries ago, who would be the nephew of the owners or the son of a maid.
Casa dos Ribeiros or Casa dos Belezas is another building known for one of its owners, Luís Beleza de Andrade, who was the protagonist of the novel “A mutiny for one hundred years” by Arnaldo Gama.
The examples continue. Casa de Fundo de Vila is famous for its garden and agricultural land, Casa da Praça is the oldest in the town (dates from 1460) and Casa do Santo was owned by Joaquim Pinheiro de Azevedo Leite Pereira, the man who “saved ” the Douro da Phylloxera.
Source
On a trip to the center of the village, you can get to know the Fonte Velha, dating from the mid-18th century. It is a very beautiful fountain, built in the baroque style, with frowns on the spouts, foliage and almond-shaped eyes. A monument that gives a very unique charm to this part of the village.
Church
The Mother Church is, as usual, the most emblematic religious temple. In this village, the current mother church was built in place of the old one, a work that began in the 20s of the 18th century and which took almost half a century to complete.
The advice is not to stay outside and enter this temple, whose nave ceiling is painted with an incredible representation of the Baptism of Christ.
Pillory
This monument is classified as a Property of Public Interest. Those who walk through the interior of the village will find this Manueline-style landmark, which dates back to the second half of the 16th century. Integrating this monument there is also an 18th century weathervane.
Chapel
Yet another religious temple, in this case with a much older origin than that of the Mother Church of the village. The Chapel of Santa Marinha was a pagan temple, Christianized by the Goths.
Its creation dates back to the 4th or 5th centuries, to the final stage of the Roman Empire. Thus, the foundation of this chapel is associated with the Paleo-Christian period, being a building that attests to the longevity of the village of Provesende.
festivals and traditions
The village of Provesende preserves many customs and cultural habits, ranging from local festivities to typical gastronomy.
The village’s main festival takes place on Pentecost (the last Sunday in May), where a large pilgrimage is held in honor of the Lord Jesus and Santa Marinha. In addition to religious rituals, such as mass, the consecration of the image of the saint and the religious procession, there is a place for traditional fairs and popular music shows and folkloric groups on the program.
The animation continues in the fairs that unite the local inhabitants, but also the many visitors who are keen to participate in this celebration of the land.
Not only on this occasion, but throughout the year, those who visit Provesende have the opportunity to taste and delight in its more traditional cuisine, where smoked products stand out.
You can then prepare to snack on good delicacies such as salpicão, alheira, chorizo and ham, “washed down” with the no less good wines of the region and accompanied by the excellent typical bread (rye or corn), baked in an oven. of firewood.
