Autumn in Minho - chestnuts, mushrooms and red leaves

Autumn is many locals' favourite season. Tourists are gone, the heat has dropped, and the landscape gains colours worth the trip alone.

**Chestnuts** - From mid-October, roasted chestnuts are sold at every fair (Viana has a Saturday market near Praça da República). Traditional magusto is on 11 November (St Martin's Day), but the first chestnuts arrive earlier.

**Mushrooms** - The Gerês mountains (1.5h drive) are rich in wild mushrooms. Don't go without an experienced guide - some are toxic. Carolina knows a guide who runs morning forays (€25-€30 per person).

**Red leaves** - Oaks, beeches, plane trees. Best walks: PR3 Viana–Santa Luzia (4 km loop), PR1 Caminha–Lapela (8 km, flat), Peneda-Gerês National Park.

Back at the Villa, fireplace always lit, chestnut soup for dinner (ask Carolina), Minho red wine - the little-known red Loureiro, ask for a bottle).