São João da Madeira - Santa Maria da Feira

The second stage in Porto and Northern Portugal. A predominantly urban stage connecting two industrial cities, but with a high intrinsic cultural content. In São João da Madeira, the discovery of the secret that gave rise to the hat-making industry is attributed to Saint James. Legend has it that Saint James used to line his sandals with rabbit fur to keep his feet warm. The fur, when rubbed and heated by the warmth of his feet, would become felted, meaning it would thicken, become dense, forming a thick and solid paste. It is said that this discovery led to the felting process, which evolved over time to give rise to the modern hat-making industry. Industrial tourism is closely intertwined with cultural history. A route covering 11,429 meters, of medium difficulty, with only 125 meters of elevation gain.