Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Santo Tirso, Portugal

Santo Tirso, an intriguing town situated by the River Ave, developed during the early Middle Ages around a Benedictine monastery. This site remains the principal attraction, characterized by its distinctive towers crowned with pyramidal, tile-coated domes. Adjacent to one of the monastery’s structures is a newly established museum that showcases Santo Tirso’s commitment to contemporary outdoor art.

The town features over 50 artworks, contributed by esteemed artists such as Vladimir Veličković and Wang Keping, which enhance the ambiance of parks and public squares. Furthermore, substantial investments have been made in beautifying the parks and riverside areas, creating serene environments for leisurely strolls and invigorating morning jogs.

Now, let us examine the top attractions in Santo Tirso:

1. Mosteiro de Santo Tirso

This monastery, founded in 978, is located in the heart of the town on the left bank of the Ave River. The existing architecture is from the mid-17th century after a significant rebuilding effort.

While the monastery’s outbuildings now house municipal offices and residences, they are notable for their exterior appearance.

Visitors can access the cloister, which features semicircular arches surrounding a tranquil garden with a fountain.

The church itself is replete with polychrome statues, gilded wood altars, and ornate side chapels.

A particularly unusual feature is the iron railing that historically separated the monks in the chancel from the congregation.

2. Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Monte Córdova

Taking a winding country road southeast from Santo Tirso will lead you to Monte de Nossa Senhora da Assunção.

The terrace offers expansive views of Santo Tirso, the open Ave Valley, and even the Atlantic on clear days.

The sunsets viewed from this vantage point are truly breathtaking, and a marked trail is available that leads back to Santo Tirso.

The sanctuary, completed in 1901, features a design reflecting Romanesque Revival architecture.

On August 15, this otherwise tranquil location comes alive with vibrant celebrations as part of the Nossa Senhora da Assunção holiday and pilgrimage.

3. Parque Urbano da Rabada

Over the last decade, Santo Tirso has seen the development of a new park nestled along a meander of the Ave River.

This inviting green space, featuring oak and cork oak trees, has undergone incremental enhancements since 2010. Public art installations by internationally renowned artists such as Wang Keping, Pino Castagna, and Philippe Perrin are dispersed throughout the park.

The park includes a lake, numerous sports facilities, a playground for children, a café, and pathways that meander through lush woodlands down to the water’s edge.

4. Castro do Monte Padrão

At one of the peaks southeast of Santo Tirso lie the intriguing remnants of a Bronze Age citadel-village.

While there are several similar sites in northern Portugal, Castro do Monte Padrão is notable for its excellent preservation and extensive period of habitation.

The oldest relics date back to the 9th century BC, with evidence of later occupation in the form of a chapel and necropolis from the Late Middle Ages.

A modern interpretation center on-site elaborates on the complex history of this castro.

Exhibits include an array of items from various periods, including bronze and iron adornments, axes, beads, glassware, coins, enamel, grinding stones, and pottery fragments.

5. Parque D. Maria II

This charming park, situated in the town center, was first designed in the 1870s.

The presence of mature plane and ginkgo trees indicates the site’s age, providing ample shade during the summer months.

The original gazebo, teahouse, and elegant promenade date back to the park’s inception.

A small pond inhabited by ducks and geese, a playground for younger visitors, and temporary art exhibitions hosted within the teahouse further enhance the park’s appeal.

In July, this park also serves as a gathering place for the Festas de São Bento.

6. Museu Municipal Abade Pedrosa

Housed within a wing of the monastery, this museum occupies a striking, elongated building that formerly served as accommodation for pilgrims.

The elegant 18th-century structure still retains its cellar and granary.

Visitors can explore an intriguing collection of artifacts excavated from archaeological sites in and around Santo Tirso, including coins, inscribed stones, and glass items from the castro at Monte Padrão.

7. Museu Internacional de Escultura Contemporânea

Opened in 2016, this museum features a contemporary angular building that is connected to the municipal museum.

Designed by renowned architects Álvaro Siza and Pritzker Prize recipient Souto de Moura, it serves to catalog Santo Tirso’s contemporary public art collection.

Since 1991, the town has hosted ten public art symposia resulting in 54 works by 53 different artists, some of which have been installed in Parque Urbano da Rabada. Although the museum does not house these pieces, it acts as an interpretation center that documents their significance and features temporary contemporary art exhibitions.

8. Parque do Ribeiro do Matadouro

This park, located in a rejuvenated area south of the town center, connects the historical Quita do Tapado estate with the urban landscape.

Established in 2013, it showcases innovative urban design principles.

A prominent feature is the Rota das Esculturas, reflecting Santo Tirso’s public art heritage.

This area includes unique fibreglass structures that merge art and functional design, intended for interaction, serving as ramps for skateboarders or climbing obstacles for children.

9. Termas das Caldas da Saúde

Situated across the river, along the route to Vila Nova de Famalicão, this natural hot spring emerges at a temperature of 36°C. It has been channelled into a fountain and is characterized by a notable sulphuric scent.

Adjacent to the fountain is a thermal spa that has been operational since 1891. The therapeutic waters are reputed to offer benefits for musculoskeletal disorders, arthritis, and respiratory ailments.

If relaxation is your goal, consider indulging in a massage or hydro-massage utilizing the healing spring waters.

10. Igreja de São Pedro de Roriz

This remarkable Romanesque church, recognized as a National Monument, was erected by the Augustinians on land granted by King Afonso Henriques.

Construction occurred over several decades, beginning in the late 1100s, and the high-quality workmanship has enabled its stonework to endure. The scallop shell motifs gracing the capitals in the portal indicate its role as a stop on the Way of St James pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

Additional carvings can be found on the pillars, in the tympanum, and on the capitals that support the blind arches in the apse.

11. Citânia de Sanfins

For history enthusiasts, the Citânia de Sanfins lies to the east, showcasing another castro.

This particular site differs from Castro do Monte Padrão due to the restoration of one of the homes, which features a thatched roof, providing insights into life here 2,500 years ago.

Comprising over 150 buildings designed in both rectangular and circular formats, many of its structures date back to the 5th century BC, reaching their peak around the time of Roman occupation.

A highlight of the site is the “pedra formosa,” a monumental inscribed stone located in the village’s public baths, adorned with delicate patterns above a small arch in the rock.

12. Festas de São Bento

Santo Tirso is home to one of the Norte region’s significant religious festivals, honoring St Benedict, the patron saint.

This celebration unfolds over five days leading to St Benedict’s Day on July 11, featuring a rich tapestry of customs and rituals handed down through generations.

The event includes masses, drum parades (bombos), traditional dances, solemn processions, theatrical performances, and dazzling fireworks displays.

Every evening, the town center transforms into a venue for concerts featuring popular Portuguese artists, culminating on the night of July 11th with a dedicated celebration of fado music.

13. Rio Ave

While improvements were being made to Parque Urbano da Rabada upriver, Santo Tirso also allocated substantial resources toward enhancing the accessibility of the Ave riverside in the city center.

A newly constructed 1.4-kilometre walking and cycling path features fishing piers and various vantage points allowing visitors to approach the water’s edge.

This serene terrain offers a refreshing perspective of the monastery and its iconic pyramidal towers amidst lush natural scenery.

14. Day Trips

Santo Tirso is geographically unique as it is equidistant from the cities of Braga, Guimarães, and Porto, each approximately 30 kilometers away. All these cities are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites, each deserving of your exploration for varied reasons.

Braga, one of the oldest cities in the country, boasts Portugal’s first cathedral and the magnificent Bom Jesus Sanctuary, situated at the top of an impressive Baroque staircase.

Equally historic, Guimarães is notable as the birthplace of Portugal’s first king and features an atmospheric old town with the Gothic Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.

Porto, internationally renowned for its port wine and picturesque riverfront neighborhood, the Ribeira, captivates visitors with its vibrant squares and colorful houses beneath the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge.

15. Local Flavours

In Santo Tirso, you will find yourself in the heart of vinho verde territory.

In this context, the term “verde” (green) refers to the wine’s youthful age rather than its color.

Vinho verde is characterized by its short maturation period, resulting in a crisp and refreshing quality that has garnered widespread appreciation.

Do seek out a bottle of the award-winning Quinta de Gomariz, produced by Antonio Sousa, a highly regarded winemaker in Portugal.

Moreover, the Benedictine monks in Roriz have preserved the tradition of crafting licor de singeverga, an artisanal liqueur distilled from saffron, cinnamon, vanilla, myrrh, cloves, and coriander.