Murça is a village in the Vila Real district, situated on the right bank of the Douro River. It is a municipality that has been populated for many centuries, even before the Romanization, as proven by the dolmens scattered around the county dating from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods.

When the Romans arrived here, they began to develop the whole region, from the construction of roads – which were fundamental for the progression of troops and communication between peoples, to the construction of bridges. There are many traces of these people.

In the 8th century, the county was plagued by an unusual amount of bears and wild boars, giving rise to great mounts that aimed to eliminate as many of these two species as possible and reassure the population.

Among this quantity of quadrupeds, there was a Porca (bear) that had become a terror to the populations, due to its enormous stature, its bravery and for being so clever, it was never killed by the hunters… This is how the legend of the “Porca de Murça” came up.

Murça has, on a gastronomic level, a quality and flavours to highlight. From the famous queijadas and toucinho do céu – made with squash, almonds and egg yolks, they are the best they make here, to the oven-roasted kid with potatoes and oven-roasted rice to accompany it, or the codfish cooked with potatoes and cabbage watered with the good olive oil of the region. Not forgetting the famous smokehouse where the alheiras (pork sausages) are included.

To visit:

• Misericórdia Chapel
• Mother Church
• Manueline Pillory of Murça
• Murça Roman bridge and road
• Diving Fountains
• Sundials
• Manor Houses
• Poço de Moira (well)
• Rochedo de Moira (rock)
• Porca de Murça (sculpture)
• Castro de Palheiros (fortification)
• Mamoa do Castelo (dolmen)

Festivities and Pilgrimages:

• Nosso Senhor dos Aflitos, on the second weekend in July