Felgueiras - Guimarães

The urban horizons of Felgueiras give way to the bucolic valley of the River Vizela and to the lands of the once-powerful Monastery of Pombeiro, which welcomed pilgrims from at least the 12th century onwards. The old road continues towards the Arco de Pombeiro Bridge, a medieval structure preceded by a stretch of paving made uneven by the passage of people and their loads over the centuries. On the other side of the river, a steep climb leads to the Church of São Cristóvão de Abação. Along this demanding walk, two motorways are crossed and, upon reaching the church, it is time to rest. From this point, high above the River Vizela, which can barely be seen in the distance, a vast horizon opens up before your eyes. The journey continues through São Tomé de Abação before climbing a little further towards Penedos Altos, once a wild and inhospitable hill dotted with huge boulders, now apparently tamed by the steady expansion of residential development. The approach to Guimarães is swift, following the old Fonte Santa road, where Saint Gualter established the first Franciscan hermitage. Cross Avenida D. João IV and head towards the Couros district. Even today, the place name Largo da Cidade can still be found there. All that remains is the climb to the Convent of São Francisco and the Tourel Garden. You are now in Guimarães, one of the most beautiful cities along the Torres Route—a city of secrets, waiting to be discovered slowly.