• Maria Marques
  • Wolfi
  • Maria Marques
  • Wolfi

Carnival

We visited Bragança and Macedo to see the Caretos in Podence. They are diabolical figures and appear dressed in colourful clothes, made from bedspreads with fringes, and covering their faces with masks made from wood or leather, with a pointed nose. Read more
  • Trip start
    February 12, 2018

    Viseu

    February 12, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    We decided to start our journey from Aveiro heading to Viseu. The historical centre of the city is beautiful and well kept. It was settled during the period of the early Iberian castro culture. The territory of Viseu was populated by a series of cultures, that include the Romans, Suebs, Visigoths and Moors. During the Roman occupation of Iberia, Viriathus, the rebel leader of the Lusitanians, is assumed to have lived for a time in the territory.Read more

  • Bragança

    February 12, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    We stayed in Bragança and before dinner we still had time to go to the medieval castle where we met our first Facanito, a Caretos boy. From its walls, one can see the mountains of Montesinho to the north and Sanabria to the west. This district is directly on the border with Spain. But Sanabria was for the following morning. In the late evening, we could still go to a Celtic bar for a beer near the open fireplace. It is so that in February the days are very cold in this area.Read more

  • Pueblo Sanábria

    February 13, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C

    Pueblo de Sanábria is a small stone village in Spain, near the border with Portugal. It is high and this morning we decided to visit it and take some time to fill our tank with gasoline. It is much cheaper in Spain than in Portugal. It was so cold that morning... Actually when we got up that morning the castle in Bragança had some vestiges of snow. On the way to Sanabria, it was a bit more. It was a "white way". The village is special in its quietness and simplicity. We had fun, though.Read more

  • Podence

    February 13, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 5 °C

    Now we finally are in Podence. It is near Macedo de Cavaleiros, deep into the inner region of Trás-os-Montes. You can park your car near the street where all happens. It was extremely cold and I have to tell you that if you decide to stay for the burning of the huge Careto that happens at dusk, you should really have warm clothes. A woollen cap is mandatory!
    As for Caretos, they carry bells and cowbells around their waist, and energetically run around the village, jumping and shouting, disturbing the daily calm. One of the main reasons for these races is to find girls in order to dance with them and "chocalhar" (jingle their cow-bells). This is fun, but at the same time, a bit discomforting.
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    Trip end
    February 13, 2018