Muge - Santarém

Leaving from the Parish Council, we turn left to Rua Almirante Reis, accompanying the building of Casa Cadaval. We have the Roman bridge in front of us, but we don’t cross it, continuing instead to the right under the viaduct of the N114 national road, until we find another bridge over which we cross the Muge stream. Through a path of fine sand, first, and then through a narrow rural road, we advance through the immense cultivated or fallow areas that lead to Benfica do Ribatejo. Nearby, the vineyard becomes predominant, in a region whose wines have been increasingly recognized and the main wineries (to visit!) already assume high levels of production and quality. After 3.5 km, we enter the village of Tapada. By asphalt, we follow and climb a path to meet the N114 again. We now cross the Ponte D. Luís over the Tejo, which in 1881 was the third largest bridge in Europe. On the opposite bank, on the right, we head to Santarém stream, to avoid walking up to the city now, which we’ll try to visit later. We enter this old port of fluvial commerce following the road N365 sidewalk, crossing the railway line and finishing the stage in the local Parish Council, which is eager to welcome us.