The oft’ forgotten and little travelled EN2, stretching from Faro in the Algarve to Chaves in Tras-os-Montes in the far north of the country is to become a new tourist route, all 739 kilometres of it.
The 'National Highway 2' initiative is being led by the Santa Marta de Penaguião council in the Vila Real district, where on Saturday a protocol was signed to link together all the municipalities through which the route passes.
"This will be the first such project at a national level which runs right through the country. It is unprecedented, pioneering and has a great socio-economic value," said the president of the Douro council area, Luís Machado.
The mayor claims that the EN2 is the "third longest road in the world," behind Route 66 in USA and Route 40 in Argentina.
The Tras-os-Montes to Algarve road runs through 36 municipalities in the interior of the country passing different towns and landscapes such as the vineyards of the Douro, the plains of the Alentejo and down to the beaches of the Algarve.
Through the varying landscapes people can enjoy different aspects of the country’s heritage and culture and Luís Machado explained that the goal is to "proceed with a dynamic design for this historic road" that will guide visitors on a journey through the country.
"The idea is that people who drive this route will have the same kind of reception in all the municipalities through which they pass and will have access to information about accommodation, restaurants and local products from each," said Machado.
"We want to develop a system where prices are uniform and we will create a passport with a municipal stamp for tourists to mark the places through which they have passed," added Machado, who wants to "help create wealth in each county and explain the heritage and landscapes. It is a unique, cross-regional project and has a great growth potential."
The Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro University in Vila Real already has offered to be a partner in the project which will involve the country’s five regional development boards. EC funds will be applied for where possible to ‘consolidate’ the route.
