AVEIRO (Portugal), March 6 — The Paiva Walkways, which opened in 2015 on the left bank of the Paiva River in Aveiro, Portugal, immerse you in nature.

Many people consider the Paiva to be the most beautiful river in the country.

When I recently spent a day there (picnic included), I took in a stunning waterfall in the middle of the mountains, then walked down the winding stairs (the walkways are almost 5 miles (8km) long) and along the wooden promenade by the river.

When I arrived at Vau Beach, I took a dip in the clean waters of the Paiva, then rested on the sand, closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the river. It renewed my soul. — The New York Times

A woman crosses a suspension bridge over the Paiva River, part of the five-mile Paiva Walkways, promenade which opened in 2015 in Arouca, Portugal, May 20, 2016.
A woman crosses a suspension bridge over the Paiva River, part of the five-mile Paiva Walkways, promenade which opened in 2015 in Arouca, Portugal, May 20, 2016.