Sistelo – “Little Portuguese Tibet”
There are those who call it “little Portuguese Tibet” because of the terraces that generations there carved. At the northern end of the county of Arcos de Valdevez, at the gates of the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG), seen from the top of the mountain range, the village seems even smaller than it actually is. The traditional houses, the mills and the granaries lose their size in the face of the imposing valley, which is very steep and enclosed, at the bottom of which flows the river Vez.
Due to the sensitivity of the territory, the village of Sistelo is included in the Natura Network and within the area classified by UNESCO as World Biosphere Reserve. Between the stunning beauty of the landscapes and the ancestral wisdom of the population, here is produced from livestock to crafts and breathe fresh air from the mountains. The Castle of Sistelo undoubtedly deserves a careful visit. Strolling through the streets of Sistelo you can enjoy the Parish Church, the House of Visconde de Sistelo.
There is much more to enjoy, such as the Roman Bridge and the Mill, the Sistelo bridge downstream, the Little Chapel of Our Lady of the Afflicted and the various chapels that abound there. You will not regret the visit!