Penha do Lobo

This short route begins on Rua Principal, the central street of Penalobo. Before leaving the village, visit a beautiful spot consisting of small marshes and several stone dams along the stream, flanked by an oak grove. In the past, water was channeled from here to the village’s vegetable gardens further down. You can follow the path to the small dam, enjoying magnificent scenery along the way. The rugged terrain, with abundant granite outcrops and little arable land, has resulted in small plots of land, used for vegetable gardens, orchards, and pastures, in the immediate vicinity of the village. Further on, thickets of broom, oak groves, and pine forests dominate the landscape. Excellent panoramic views of the Serra da Estrela and Cova da Beira begin to open up, accompanying us until the end of the route. We pass by Quinta da Retorta, with numerous small-scale crops and agricultural activities, including terraced orchards and vegetable gardens, marshy areas, cork oak groves, beehives, and a community oven. After the zigzagging climb, we arrive at what remains of the protohistoric fortified settlement of Serra das Vinhas, and from here we continue along the ridge until we reach the vicinity of Penalobo. In the village, there is a private collection featuring hundreds of minerals of various colors and shapes, which is well worth a visit.