Romarigães: Literature, History and the Way of St. James

Romarigães brings together literature, archaeological history and a pilgrimage route to create a richly layered picture of the place. Casa Grande is located in Quinta do Amparo, which Aquilino Ribeiro immortalised in his novelistic chronicle; a fortified settlement is known by two names, and a section of the Way of St. James is associated with Romarigães. There is also a writing room with writing instruments from different periods and activities on tablets, as well as a work of art on Caminho das Piçarras. If you are looking for a holiday rental or holiday home, these themes can help guide your trip planning: would you like to focus mainly on literature and architectural history, the archaeological history of the area, or the pilgrimage route and its landscape?

Literature and Architectural History

Casa Grande de Romarigães is located in Quinta do Amparo, which Aquilino Ribeiro immortalised in his novelistic chronicle “A Casa Grande de Romarigães”. The name of the house and the title are intertwined: the building stands in the quinta, which the work connects to Romarigães through literature. Next to Casa Grande is a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Amparo. Igreja Paroquial de Romarigães also offers an architectural perspective on the area’s history. Its present-day building was constructed in the early years of the 19th century. These named places thus bring together different cultural connections: the chronicle, the chapel’s dedication and the church’s architectural history.

Writing, Settlement and Art

Sala da Escrita is on the first floor of Casa Grande. It has slate boards, typewriters from different periods and activities on tablets. The various writing tools and activities make the room a tangible counterpart to the house’s literary history: the focus shifts from the novel as a finished work to tools and activities related to writing. If you are travelling with children, the different media can prompt conversation, for example about how writing differs between a slate board, a typewriter and a tablet.

The fortified settlement of Cividade de Romarigães, also known as Coto de Ouro, is located at Alto da Cidade in Romarigães. Its two names and precise location give this archaeological site a distinctive character. Here, the focus is on a fortified settlement, while Casa Grande is linked to literature through a chronicle. Anyone interested in different traces of the past can consider these contrasting perspectives on Romarigães together. “Ver através da árvore” by Dalila Gonçalves is also located on Caminho das Piçarras. The work adds another cultural dimension to the literary and architectural connections.

The Way of St. James and the Landscape

A section of the Way of St. James associated with Romarigães, in the municipality of Paredes de Coura, passes through woodland with pine trees, eucalyptus and oaks. The Way of St. James in Paredes de Coura leads to Agualonga via an old bridge to the S. Roque chapel, and then meets again with the Roman-paved road coming from Romarigães. The route description thus connects a specific landscape with named landmarks and a link between paths. If you are interested in the Way of St. James, the woodland section and the route via the bridge and chapel can both be a focus for your visit.

Visiting Hours

Casa Grande is listed as open from 1 July to 15 September, Wednesday to Saturday, from 2 pm to 6 pm. Check these seasonal hours before your visit, especially if Casa Grande has a fixed place in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Linhares de Cima, Agualonga, Coura, Paredes De Coura, Porreiras

Return to the main travel overview: Paredes De Coura.