Vila Flôr

VILA FLÔR – the Town of Flowers – is 24km south of Mirandela and worth a quick stop if you’re on your way into deep eastern Trás-os-Montes. It was given its name as early as the thirteenth century, by Dom Dinis who, on his way to meet Isabel of Aragon, was clearly in a romantic frame of mind. Flowers are not so evident today, though handsome tree-lined squares and a striking twin-towered tiled church provide focus for a stroll, while don’t miss the wonderfully eccentric Museu Municipal de Berta Cabral, just below the church. It’s an incredible hodgepodge, encompassing all kinds of bizarre curios, from an embalmed Angolan rat to an ensemble of antelope-horn and zebra-hide furniture.