A map, one or more itineraries, a vivid route, is what the "Região de Turismo do Alto Minho" (Upper Minho's regional tourism) presents the visitors and tourists that want to travel all around the "Alto Minho", discovering our artistic techniques, as a vivid expression of an economical activity, which transforms raw material in useful objects and/or decorative ones. It is a way of life that has tradition and that is transmitted to descendants, it is a reflection of our culture and it supports a creative activity that makes an artisan a true artist.

Paths, many paths, duly marked, are the motive to discover the artistic technique available. This is why, with the artisan, creative in his every day workshop, where many times the medieval tradition of art and trade are maintained. With the master organising all work processes; the companion, who is his assistant and the apprentice, who is young and learns the art from the master.

Ceramic, weaving, basket making, embroidery and lace, wooden articarfts, toys, festive art, metal art, decorating art, etc, is a faithful portrait of our articarfts, which has maintained itself traditional and never stopped fighting for a place in the tourists eyes. The items must have quality, motivating the search by the appraiser of art and culture. This kind of art is seen as patrimony and as a symbol of the region and of the people.

Gladly that, in the "Alto Minho", we may still find so many manifestations of artistic skills, which are surviving an Industrial Era. Even after a difficult period when the domestically and international emigration started, taking with it the artisans. They did return, giving new vitality and dynamism to the sector, a new youth.

We tried to give the route a sense of itinerary this is why we choose three courses: - That of our rivers, of our valleys-Minho, Lima, Cávado, each with its own habits, its own circumstances and its own ecosystem.

Visit us! And buy!
Buying artesanal goods is taking back a remembrance of the people and the lands of "Alto Minho".