Percurso do Balsemão

Along the Balsemão Trail, the interplay between granite and schist highlights the geological richness of this area. The rocky cliffs along the banks of the Varosa River are extraordinarily beautiful. Here, the golden eagle builds its nests and feeds on small birds and mammals. Olive groves predominate in this region, where invasive species such as common reed and acacia can also be observed. Scrublands abound amid gorse and rockroses. The common hawthorn and arbutus are shrubs found along the banks of the Varosa River. With their red berries, they create scenes of unparalleled beauty. Ash and alder trees, as well as the aromatic herb rosemary, grow easily, as the river provides them with the water they need to thrive.You can also find the famous “Devil’s Audience Chamber,” mentioned in the Pina de Morais Guide.João Pina de Morais was born in Valdigem, in the municipality of Lamego, on January 6, 1889, the son of another João Pina de Morais (a native of Guiães, Vila Real) and Rita Olinda de Morais. The couple had numerous children, some of whom died of illness at a very young age. The family lived in Quintião, near Cambres.