Trilho de Alvazinhos

We set out from the Hotel & SPA, located in the heart of the Bornes Mountains at an altitude of 1,050 meters. Along the way, we can marvel at the beautiful landscapes surrounding us: pastures, farmlands, marshes, and woodlands, where wild orchids grow. Just before reaching Alvazinhos, we pass through Vales, where we can spend the night at the old elementary school, now converted into a rural guesthouse.

The hike offers opportunities to spot some birds of prey, such as the Black Kite, or others that are harder to spot, like the Blue Rock Thrush, as well as some game species, such as the Partridge or the Rabbit. In season, various types of mushrooms can be found, such as Sanchas, Míscaros, Moncosos, and Rocos (or Frades), which should only be picked by knowledgeable individuals. Finally, upon arriving in the village, we enter the old town, visiting the Mother Church, with 16th-century features, the Ferreira Chapel, featuring an ecclesiastical coat of arms carved in the 18th century, and the Castle Square, which was undoubtedly the central area of the medieval castle commissioned by King Dinis.

Since the walk was long, we rested amidst the vast landscape of the viewpoint, where an imposing work of urban art stands alongside the old cobblestone threshing floor, which was once used to thresh the grain that was once abundant in the fields of the town’s district.