Amêndoa Path
Trail Certified by the Portuguese Camping and Mountaineering Federation (FCMP) and European Hiking Federation (ERA)
Path
Starting and finishing at the Church Square in Amêndoa, this circular trail covers a large part of the parish from which it takes its name. It is a rural route that crosses a landscape shaped by thousands of years of human occupation, where nature, geology and history combine to create a unique heritage.
Known in Roman times as Amindula, present-day Amêndoa developed alongside an important route linking Egitania (Idanha-a-Velha) to Tubucci (Abrantes). Archaeological findings discovered throughout the area, including fragments of mosaics, pottery and other remains from the Roman period, attest to the historical importance of this territory over the centuries.
The emblematic Poço Mourão, a must-see location, particularly during the rainy season, is widely regarded as the hallmark of this route. However, there is much more to discover, beginning with the majestic Serra da Amêndoa and the almost twenty villages scattered across the surrounding countryside, each preserving its own traditions and identity.
Covering an area of nearly 40 km², the parish of Amêndoa boasts remarkable biodiversity, combined with an exceptional historical and cultural legacy. It offers an irresistible invitation to enjoy a peaceful walk through the ancient Lands of Amindula, where every path reveals new landscapes, memories and stories.
Natural Heritage
Maritime pine dominates much of the natural landscape, accompanied by species such as eucalyptus and acacia. Isolated stands of cork oak and strawberry tree can still be found, together with extensive areas of rockrose and other shrubs, including heather, carqueja, mastic trees and the unusual seven-blood herb, recognised by its delicate blue flowers.
Depending on the season, visitors may also encounter a wide variety of bulbous plants, wild orchids, pútegas and sargaços, further enriching the botanical diversity of the route.
As for wildlife, hikers may come across species such as the red fox, booted eagle, European badger, common wood pigeon, Pandora butterfly, common blue butterfly, woodlark, crag martin, subalpine warbler and, among amphibians, the remarkable fire salamander.
Cultural Heritage
With an extensive historical and cultural heritage, reflecting the enduring relationship between people and the land since ancient times, the Amêndoa Route transports visitors to different eras and ways of life.
A prominent example is the Castro of São Miguel, an important fortified settlement from the Iron Age, later influenced by Roman occupation. Its surviving remains bear witness to centuries of human presence and make it one of the most significant archaeological sites in the municipality of Mação.
Along the trail, visitors will also encounter the Church of Our Lady of the Conception and its stone Cross, located in the centre of Amêndoa, as well as the Chapel of Saint Isidore in Chão de Lopes.
Nearby, the old communal bread oven of Monte Fundeiro, the Chapel of Martinzes and the impressive water mine of Pé da Serra are also well worth a visit, standing as enduring testimonies to the way local communities adapted to the natural resources of the region.
In a landscape crossed by ancient routes used since remote times, magnificent viewpoints deserve special mention. One of them, known as Territórios Romanos de Amindula (Roman Lands of Amindula) and Ladeira D Joana Geosite, offers breathtaking panoramic views over the Serra da Amêndoa and the surrounding countryside. From these privileged locations, visitors can evoke the memory of the ancient Roman settlement that once flourished here, giving full meaning to the spirit of this route: to walk through nature is also to walk through history.