Cheap Car Rental Mirandela

Mirandela is a pretty little town in Portugal’s northernmost region of Trás-os-Montes, which means behind the mountains. Only few tourists find their way to this beautiful area, because they get lost in the plethora of sights in Porto region, but there is so much to see in Trás-os-Montes: Celtic and Roman relics, unspoiled countryside, tasty delicacies, and hospitable locals.

Mirandela is most famous for the long Roman bridge across the river Tua and its countless romantic parks along the Tua, which gave it the name Garden Town.
The list of sights also includes the fabulous baroque city hall and the Museu Municipal, displaying sculptures by the famous artist Antonio Teixera Lopez.
If you visit Mirandela in late July you will get the chance to go to the Nossa Senhora Amparo Festival, a charming light procession and fireworks. The festival is a great way to learn about local traditions like the Pauliteiros stick dance, most likely an ancient fertility ritual, and sample local delicacies like honey, ham, Alheira, a spicy garlic sausage, and Truta, trout wrapped in bacon. The wine served with your dinner is produced in the Douro vineyards not far from Mirandela.

Trás-os-Montes is perfect for a round trip with a rental car, as public transport is quite sporadic and limited to the most populated areas. Your itinerary should start with Murca, a small town just outside Mirandela. It was first settled during the Bronze Age, and stone carvings tell visitors about Celtic hunting rituals.
Continue further north in Chaves, a town that was already a popular stop in Roman times for its thermal springs and gold mines. To this day you can visit the Roman fortification and the impressive 500 feet-long bridge that has helped the locals across the river for 2000 years. The medieval town center makes for a great afternoon stroll, during which you should visit the Romanic church. The Museu Militar hosts a colorful exhibition of uniforms, armor, and old military equipment.
Once you’ve seen enough and your feet are swollen from the walk, take a dip in the thermal baths and then go for a bite to eat in the cosy local pubs.
Continuing your history tour of Trás-os-Montes, go to Monforte next. The 16th century castle is a perfect spot to spend a few hours and relax in the sun.
Just west of Chaves is the Barroso Region with its capital Montealegre. Barroso is famous for its bull fights, an old tradition to settle disputes between villages or simply have a friendly competition. Each village sends a bull and the stronger animal will be able to chase away the weaker one; this is usually a non-bloody event and highly entertaining.
Our last recommendation is a trip to Boticas, where locally produced wine is buried for two years before it is sold, which is why it is called Vinos Mortas, wine of the dead.