Via Mariana: a route of culture, heritage and nature

Via Mariana is a pilgrimage route, which aims to connect some of the main sanctuaries of the Iberian Peninsula, in a unique experience that combines culture, heritage and nature.

A route that crosses the cities and villages of Braga, Vila Verde, Ponte da Barca, Arcos de Valdevez and Melgaço, including routes in the Peneda Gerês National Park. Via Mariana has paths that no one has traveled for more than 50 years that were recently opened for an experience full of traditions, legends, picturesque places, and historic villages.

It is a route of about 370 kilometers, which connects the Sanctuary of Sameiro, in Braga to the Sanctuary of the Virgin Barca, in Muxia, passing through a dozen Marian shrines in Minho and Galicia.

Despite the distance travelled, you can do this route with our E-Bikes to have moments of more comfort and a complete enjoyment of this route. Tobogã - Portugal Adventure Tours has a wide range of E-Bikes available to make your ride as pleasant as possible. The powerful engine helps even on steeper climbs, giving rise to a full set of positive sensations.

Along the way, you will discover various points of interest such as the Sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela. You will be able to rediscover a new historical, artistic, and even gastronomic heritage ready to be known by all those interested in combining culture and leisure in an E-Bike experience.

Via Mariana also crosses part of the Peneda Gerês National Park, where you will discover the narrow streets typical of the mountain of Vila do Soajo, with special attention to the traditional granaries that are a historic part of this village. You will also pass by the Mezio Gate, one of the 5 main gates of the Park and also by the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Peneda with an exuberant landscape.

The route can be designed to what best suits you, however we recommend that you divide it into several stages so that you can rest and enjoy each one of these stages calmly. You can choose to rent our electric mountain bikes, to enjoy the route at your own pace, or be accompanied by a guide who will immerse you in the stories and traditions of the places you will visit.

If you want more information about this type of tour, contact us and book your adventure now.

This article was developed under the QualMinho@PME Project, funded by Compete 2020, Portugal 2020 and EU FEDER