A solar eclipse is a rare phenomenon that occurs "when the Earth, Moon and Sun are aligned, and the Moon completely or partially obscures the solar disc for a few moments". The event has already led to rural accommodation and hotels in Bragança selling out, while campsites are also reporting strong demand.
Solar eclipse fills Bragança accommodation
"We are fully booked. We have already received requests for more reservations and, unfortunately, we have had to say no (...) Everyone says they are coming for the eclipse," the owner of Hotel Tulipa, in central Bragança, told Lusa.
Elisabete Raimundo said she began noticing significant interest in reservations for the night of the eclipse around a month ago. Guests started calling the hotel directly because those dates were already sold out on online agencies such as Booking.
"People are really willing to make the effort; there are curious people, and that is a good sign. Let people come," said the businesswoman.
In the heart of Montesinho Natural Park, in the village of Vilarinho, the rural holiday homes run by Luís Correia have also sold out.
The entrepreneur has four properties with different occupancy capacities. Since opening bookings for August in February, all availability was taken within "eight days".
"We are completely full, and if we had more, we would have more [reservations]. There is enormous demand for 12 August. It is an event in which people have shown great interest," the entrepreneur told Lusa.
According to Luís Correia, the phenomenon is boosting business, particularly as some guests are choosing to stay for more than one night.
"There are bookings for three or four nights. They take the opportunity to stay longer. What prompted them was, 'let's make the most of a two-in-one: get to know the area, enjoy the food and take the opportunity to see the eclipse'," he said, stressing that the region should not be viewed "as the misfortune of having few people", but rather "as the virtue of having few people", with "peace, tranquillity and nature".
Campsites and rural stays in demand
Some visitors favour booking in the middle of nature, which is why the Sobre Águas campsite has also seen "considerable demand", both for camping pitches and its two bungalows, which were booked around two months ago.
"Many people have been calling. First looking for accommodation and then for camping; really quite a lot of people, with tents, motorhomes and caravans. (...) We have been receiving calls almost every day," said manager Vítor Reis.
Lusa attempted to make an online Booking reservation for the night of 12 to 13 August at accommodation in the municipality of Bragança, and found that 99% of offers were fully booked.
Total solar eclipse in Montesinho Natural Park
According to the Bragança Ciência Viva Centre, the last total solar eclipse took place in 1912, and the next one will not occur until 2144.
It can be viewed in its entirety in Montesinho Natural Park, more specifically in the village of Guadramil, in the parish of Rio de Onor, within the municipality of Bragança.
"For around 26 seconds, people in the Montesinho Natural Park region will observe a total eclipse revealing the Solar Corona, the Sun's outermost atmosphere, visible to the naked eye only during a total solar eclipse," states the Bragança Ciência Viva Centre's website.
Given the interest in and rarity of the phenomenon, the Bragança Ciência Viva Centre is arranging transport for those wishing to watch it, as vehicle access to Rio de Onor will be restricted that day.
"As this is a small village without the capacity to safely accommodate a high number of vehicles, the organisation is providing a return coach transfer from Bragança Aerodrome to Rio de Onor," the website also states.
Registration is available online and places are limited for "safety and environmental conservation reasons".
"All registration fees will go directly to the Cultural Associations of the Union of Parishes of Aveleda and Rio de Onor, in order to ensure safe viewing conditions, notably by providing every participant with certified glasses for observing the solar eclipse," it added.
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