Driving the curvy EN15 to Alto de Espinho
Alto de Espinho is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,025m (3,362ft) above sea level, located in the North region of Portugal.
Where is Alto de Espinho?
The pass is located on the boundary between the Porto and Vila Real districts, in the Serra do Marão mountain range.
Is Alto de Espinho paved?
The road to the summit is fully paved and features countless turns, narrow parts, and steep sections, hitting a 9.2% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. It’s called Estrada Nacional 15 (EN 15) and was the old road connecting Porto and Bragança, two major cities in Portugal. Although it’s a lonely road, you may encounter cyclists on festive days and weekends, so it’s important to drive calmly.
How long is the road through Alto de Espinho?
The pass stretches 46.6 km (29 miles), running west to east from Amarante to Parada de Cunhos. The road is often used in the Vuelta a Portugal cycling race, with one stage ending at the top of Monte Farinha (Nossa Senhora da Graça).
Is Alto de Espinho still in use?
Historically, this road was considered very dangerous when it served all traffic until the 1980s. A new road, called IP4, was inaugurated to bypass the most challenging sections. Later, in 2016, the A4 expressway was completed after the construction of Túnel do Marão, one of the highest tunnel roads in the Iberian Peninsula.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez