The short route of the Trilho de Covas do Barroso (Covas do Barroso Trail) is a circular walking route, starting and finishing next to the information panel located near the Forno do Povo de Covas do Barroso (Covas do Barroso People's Oven), which used to play an important role in village society, serving as a meeting place during the evenings, but also as a hostel for the poor, beggars and pilgrims passing through the village. Heading south, the route passes by the Church of Santa Maria, a Property of Public Interest, where you'll find the tomb of Afonso Anes Barroso, squire of King Afonso I, and continues towards the village of Romaínho, between fields and meadows, passing several well-preserved mills, some of which are still in operation. Along this route you can also see levadas (water channels for watering the meadows and vegetable gardens).
Arriving in Romaínho, the route follows the streets of the village, passing by the chapel of São José. Heading north, the route enters countryside again, passing by the village of Muro which, from its place name, was probably a fort. Crossing the Lamais stream, there is a junction where you can visit the SIPAM Olhar do Guerreiro Territory Observatory, from where you can appreciate the fauna, flora and traditional agricultural production systems that have elevated this territory to "World Agricultural Heritage", a classification awarded by the FAO - Food and Agriculture Organisation. The return to the village of Covas do Barroso is made by heading towards the Engenho do Linho do Jaco (Jaco Flax Mill) and continuing towards the slopes of the Serra da Sombra (Shadow Mountains), now taking more mountainous paths to the Azenhas da Pedreira (Quarry Holm), on the left bank of the Covas River. Continuing along the foothills of the Serra da Sombra, the Little Route ends next to the initial panel in the centre of the village, in Largo do Cruzeiro, where there is an imposing Byzantine cross, erected in 1776.
Download the leaflet with useful information here.
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