At the foot of the fertile slopes of Serra da Nave, between rivers Tavora and Varosa, there is the Varosa valley place of worship and meditation, chosen by the Cistercian monks to build some of the finest examples of Cistercian art. Monasteries such as St. John of Tarouca century . XII , are now living witnesses of the dynamic spirit of the early monks who shaped the region in his image, working the land, cultivating the vines, instilling norms and traditions that endure today . Prime area of large tracts of vineyards, here are born some of the best national sparkling, alongside aromatic and fruity table wines, white and red . It is this lavish union between the nature and the history that the Route of the Cistercian Vineyards, which merges with the demarcated region Távora - Varosa has to offer .