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The city is situated
close to the River Sousa, which flows through this
region in a series of gorges, and one of the most famous
of these is the one known as "Senhora do Salto" (The
Lady of the Leap).
According to legend,
a knight was tempted by the devil to jump into one of
these gorges, but, after calling upon the Virgin Mary to
help him, he landed gently on the opposite bank. As a
sign of gratitude, he ordered a small chapel to be built,
which has become an important place of worship in the
area.
Due to the region´s
particular geographical characteristics, the conditions
here are ideal for water sports such as canoeing, as
well as rock climbing and mountaineering.
A special mention
should be made of the many Romanesque monuments in the
surrounding region, with the church and monastery of
Cete being one of Portugal's oldest places of worship,
for its foundation dates back to the twelfth century.
For more information
about other regions, click on the following links:
(Information provided
by Portuguese tourism board)
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