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São Torcato is a small village 6 km from

Guimarães with a vast historic and cultural

heritage which can be felt in the harmony

of the Land, the People and the River,

elements that been intertwined for

generations and ones we have pledged

to reinstate and preserve.

In the mid 16th century, the introduction

of corn to this valley steeped in rural

traditions meant that gristmills would take

on a more important role in the local

economy. The characteristic tall grapevines

that border the cultivated fields along

with the river, in harmony with the mills,

make for a singularly beautiful and unique

landscape, one distinctive in this corner

of the Minho province.

A town devoted to faith and yet with

strong secular traditions and culture, São

Torcato gears up for the high point of

the year, the Grand Pilgrimage (Romaria

Grande) on the first Sunday in July.

São Torcato is a spot that offers visitors

other attractions. In addition to the beautiful

granite Sanctuary and its surrounding

parks, there is also the Ethnographic

Museum, the Museum of Sacred Art and

the Chapel at Fonte do Santo, the place

where St. Torcato himself met a martyr’s

death in the year 715. At that time, he

intended to halt the advance of the

Moorish army led by Musa, one of Tarik’s

generals. Legend has it that the body of

the saint was discovered by a Benedictine

monk under a hill of rocks on the spot

where the chapel stands at Fonte do Santo.

The most significant historical monument

is, without a doubt, the Old Church of

São Torcato, where for centuries the

uncorrupted body of the saint was held

in veneration.

PR S.Torcato and its gristmills Overview of the route

Location of Arrival and DepartureSão Torcato

Nature and focus of the routeSporting, historical-cultural,environmental and landscape appeal

Type of routeSmall, over rural paths and lanes

Total distanceCovers 8.5 km – in a circular route

Duration of the routeApproximately 4 hours to complete

Level of difficultyEasy

Amount of climbingPrimarily level ground along thewalking paths

Best time of the year for the routeAll year round

2 guimarães s. torcato and its gristmills 3 guimarães s. torcato and its gristmills

2 Monastery of S. Torcato

The construction of the Monastery of

São Torcato was begun in 1868 according

to the plans drawn up by an architect

named Bohnfledt, a Russian of German

citizenship. Later, modifications were made

by the architect José Marques da Silva

who continued work until 1940.

The granite stone work of the sanctuary

shows the rigor and eye for perfection

of the masons to the extent that the

region has enjoyed a favourable reputation

for this long tradition of excellence in this

area.

In the interior of the monastery, the intact

and uncorrupted body of the first martyr

to the Christian faith on the Iberian

Peninsula rests in a mausoleum in the

Main Chapel, receiving worshippers who

make the special pilgrimage of faith to

visit the site.

Devotion to the saint has made São Torcato

one of the most frequented pilgrimage

destinations in the north of the country.

In front of the Sanctuary are the grounds

known as the Terreiro das Missas Campais,

a paved square, plentifully shaded with

stone benches all round where on feast

days traditional dances may be performed

by some local groups (called a rancho

folclórico) from the Borough. A park on

various levels is located at the end of this

square with an artificial lake and leisure

boats very much in demand in the

summer months, especially with children.

Ethnographic Museum ofS.TorcatoLocated in the headquarters of the

Brotherhood of São Torcato, just behind

the Sanctuary, the Ethnographic Museum

and the Museum of Sacred Art, opened

in 1985, are both well worth a visit.

In a collection that occupies various

rooms are pieces related to the building

of the church, the pilgrimages and the

cult of St. Torcato. In a neighbouring

building are items related to linen and

wine production as well as tools used in

trades once practiced in the Borough.

Guided Tours (to be booked in advance)Contact: Irmandade de São Torcatoph. : +351 253 551 150


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6 The Mill at de Sub-Devesa

The mill with a horizontal water wheel

is still operational and can be visited by

the public from Monday to Saturday. In

addition to seeing the mill itself, visitors

may buy the typical bread of the region,

a corn-bread loaf called a broa de milho

from the current mill keepers, António

and Joaquina.

The Chapel at Fonte do Santo

The Borough of São Torcato owes its

name to a saint who was born in Toledo,

Spain in the 7th century who later became

the bishop of Braga. This priest, legend

has it, died a martyr in this place along

with 27 companions faithful to Christianity

at the hands of the infidel Musa, a

commander of the Moorish army that

attacked Guimarães in 715.

The same tradition tells us that later

heavenly signs announced the location

of St. Torcato’s body, and when it was

uncovered, water sprang forth from the

spot, and ever since, it has cured pilgrims

who have used it.

Battlefield Campo da Ataca

According to the oral tradition handed

down over generations, it was on this

battle site on June 24, 1128 that the

Battle of São Mamede took place, with

the victory of D. Afonso Henriques

granting him the sovereignty over the

Condado Portucalense, thus initiating the

political process of establishing

independence for Portugal in a final

breaking away from the forces in Galicia

that sought to keep this province bound

to Spanish lands. It can be said, therefore,

that Portugal was born here.”

The preparation of this site, proposed

by Prof. Freitas do Amaral, was

undertaken by the City Hall of Guimarães

on the occasion of the 2nd Historical

Conference on Guimarães, dedicated to

the study of “Dom Afonso Henriques and

his Era”. The battlefield was inaugurated

on 27 October 1996 at the closing of

written by professor and political figure, Diogo Freitas do Amaral

the conference with the unveiling of

sculptures by Augusto Vasconcelos.


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Igreja Paroquial S.Torcato

The Church of São Torcato is in the

Romanesque style, a product of various

phases of construction over four centuries,

from the 10th to the 13th. Of greater

interest are its pre-Romanesque features.

Archaeological digs in the 1980s

established that the site was occupied

initially in the Middle Ages yet also brought

to attention certain pre-Romanesque

elements in the building, causing this

monument to be labelled one of the

most important examples of Visigothic

art in the north of Portugal.

The most important vestiges are the

limestone friezes that decorate the inside

of the main chapel. With a delicate design

based on tangent circles and quatrefoils,

they represent one of the principal

elements characterizing the complex

artistic reality of the 10th century: at the

same time they represent a unity with

what was being produced abroad in

Asturias (Spain), yet with certain

Other activities on after

Viva Park

Visiting the local bridges, Botanical visits,

Environmental education, Observing the

local fauna and flora, Paintball, Hiking,

Archery, Archery with blow darts,

Scavenger Hunting, Climbing, Slides,

Rappelling, Fairground attractions, Birthdays,

anniversaries and other planned events.

contact:ph.: +351 253 553 139ph.: +351 919 660 625www.vivapark.pt

geometric elements found in both Tomar

and Lisbon, they attest to the vitality of

the north-south axis of influence inside

Portugal.


Fauna and Flora

Along the trails, watchful eyes will be able

to spot (with some luck, of course) the

grey partridge (perdix perdix) and the red-

legged partridge (alectoris rufa), as well as

the wild boar (sus scrofa), the red fox

(vulpes vulpes), various birds of prey, the

green woodpecker (picus viridis) and the

cuckoo (cuculus canorus), among others.

Also along the paths are rabbits, water

moles, squirrels, and in streams the Iberian

frog, trout and dace (a fish of the leuciscus

genus), and perhaps a freshwater otter.

In terms of flora, in addition to oaks, pines,

chestnuts, black poplars and grape vines,

there is the traditional vegetation along

the river banks, such as willows, alders,

quince trees and a variety of shrubs.

Local Festivals and Fairs

The ‘27’ Festival

Held on the 27th of February

The Linen Festival

Held on the first Saturday in July

The Grand Pilgrimage to São Torcato

Held the first weekend in July

The ‘Hometown’ Fair and Festival

Second weekend in July

The São Torcato Folklore Festival

Third weekend in July

Harvest Festival (Festa das Colheitas)

Held the first weekend in October

Weekly Market Day

Saturday

Guided visits along the Rural

Walking Tours

Ecoturismo Montanha Viva

ph.: +351 919 660 625

[email protected]

Useful Phone Numbers

G.N.R. (Police)

ph.: +351 253 551 384

S. Torcato Chemist’s (Pharmacy)

ph.: +351 253 551 752

S. Torcato Health Centre (Clinic)

ph.: +351 253 551 372

SOS Floresta (Forest Rescue and Safety)

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SOS Emergência (Emergency Services)

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can be some diversity in the lay-out and

positioning of the gear systems, primarily in

terms of the water wheel itself with respect

to how the water sets the wheel in motion.

The circumstances and characteristics of

how the water reaches the wheel determine

which fundamental category the gristmill

belongs to. Type I is the horizontal wheel

with spokes (or vanes) which may or may

not be submersed in the water source (as

in a turbine system). Type II is the vertical

wheel, known in Portugal as the azenha,

with the name corresponding to whether

the water hits at the top, middle or bottom

of the wheel, respectively, an overshot, breast

shot, or undershot configuration (the last

being a wheel placed in a river). In this

region, the existing wheels are of the rodízio

type. The entire mechanical works are set

up inside a mill house, small two-level stone

structures with tiled roofs, the upper part

being the milling area and the lower part

the wheel pit (sometimes called inferno, or

“hell”). It was not only on the smaller

tributary rivers, such as the Febras or the

Torto, or along streams, that men put up

these ingenious structures but also along

the banks of the more prominent ones of

the area, such as the River Ave.

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HistoryIt is impossible to precisely determine the

date when water mills first appeared in the

regions that make up Portugal’s current

borders, but it would be correct to suppose

that they were introduced in Roman times

as part of the general infrastructure that

they set up throughout the Empire; there

is no doubt that water mills were used

during the Roman occupation. In any event,

the existence of water mills in Portugal at

this time shows to what extent the 10th

century was a time of security for the

population, with abundant mention of the

mills in texts from that point on. Terms

seen in the documentation include: moinhos,

molinos, molendini aquae, sesegas, sessecas,

sesigas molinarium or molinantium (this

last referring to the site where a mill was

or could be placed).

TypologyIn Portugal, two types of water mill can be

found: those with a horizontal wheel

or those with a vertical wheel, the former

called a molinus, using the Latin term, and the

latter coming from the term acenia in Arabic,

which gives us the Portuguese word azenha.

In the general category of water mills, there

Water Mills

Overview of the Route

Location of Arrival and DepartureSão Salvador de Briteiros.

Nature and Focus of the RouteHistorical-cultural, environmental andlandscape appeal

Type of RouteSmall, over rural paths and lanes

Total DistanceCovers 9.5 km – in a circular route

Duration of the RouteApproximately 4 hours to complete

Level of DifficultyEasy

Amount of ClimbingPrimarily level ground alongthe walking paths

Best Time of the Year for the RouteAll year round

12 guimarães the citânia route 13 guimarães the citânia route

As well as featuring the artefacts

uncovered at Briteiros, the Museum of

Castrejo Culture also focuses on Francisco

Martins Sarmento, whose memory is still

alive throughout the exhibits via his texts,

photographs and personal effects.

Opening hours:9.30h - 12.30h / 14.00h - 18.00hopen daily (except December 25th, January 1stand Easter sunday)ph.: / fax: +351 253 478 952www.csarmento.uminho.pt

The footpath leading to Citânia crosses

the villages of Donim and São Salvador

de Briteiros at the southern end of the

Borough. To the north lies the Falperra

ridge of mountains of medium height

(with approx. 400m) and the Ave River

valley to the south. In addition to offering

prime land for farming and grazing, this

area is outstanding for its excellent natural

defences, favouring the establishment of

early human settlement and civilization.

The archaeological work begun by Martins

Sarmento in Sabroso and Briteiros in

1875 allows us to get to know first hand

one of the most important Castrejo

settlements in the Northwest Iberian

Peninsula.

The objects uncovered there can be

viewed at the Citânia de Briteiros or in

the Museum of the Castrejo Culture

(both included on the walking tour) and

are an important testimony to the complex

civilization of these ancient people.

PR2 The Citânia Route

Elaborately decorated gold artefacts, stone

carvings (of which the Pedras Formosas,

or “beautiful stones” stand out as

examples), personal items, instruments

and tools used for daily activities – they

all allows us to picture how the culturally

and artistically advanced Castrejo could

be the “root-source to cultural identity”

for the people of the Northwest.

Along the banks of the Ave River and

two of its tributaries, the Febras and Torto

Rivers, we can observe various gristmills,

artifacts of greatest value and utility for

the agricultural and grazing economy of

the region. Bearing in mind the rich cultural

and historical context, we invite you to

visit the mills and enjoy the surrounding

countryside in the rural walking tour that

we propose to you now.

Museum of the Castrejo Culture

Opened to the public in 2003, the Museum

of the Castrejo Culture is located in a Baroque

manor house built toward the end of the

18th - beginning of the 19th century. This

was the headquarters of archaeological

research for the renowned scholar Martins

Sarmento at Citânia de Briteiros and at

Castro de Sabroso. It is also notable for

being the site chosen for the 1st National

Archaeological Conference held in Portugal

in 1877.

The museum complex consists of several

agricultural out-buildings with porches, a

corral,a field for dry farming, a corn crib

with threshing floor and mill – its collections

are filled with the findings unearthed at

Citânia de Briteiros and Castro de Sabroso.

15 guimarães the citânia route14 guimarães the citânia route

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3 Citânia de Briteiros

The archaeological ruins of Citânia de

Briteiros are a national monument and

singular proof of the existence of an

important early pre-Roman settlement

in the north-east of Portugal belonging

to type referred to as “castros” (fortified

hill towns). This culture is still clearly

evident despite heavy romanisation at

the beginning of the Christian era. Martins

Sarmento, the famous ethnologist and

archaeologist, who was born in Guimarães

in 1833, conducted a scientific exploration

of these ruins making a decisive

contribution to their study, conservation

and disclosure.

A large number of buildings of various

types are distributed freely but not

random around the site. This incipient

organisation provides important insights

to understanding these remote people

who lived perched on top of their

mountains, girdled by various defensive

walls; large parts of which are still intact.

Opening hours:9.30h - 18.00hopen dailyph:. / fax: +351 253 415 969www.csarmento.uminho.pt

Grist Mill at Requeixo, Donim

Grist mill in cubic form of medieval

construction with granite holding tank in

six pieces with granite water chute.

(M. N.)

16 guimarães the citânia route 17 guimarães the citânia route

Fauna and Flora

The terrain of Citânia de Briteiros is

marked with granite boulders and

outcroppings which over time came to

the surface and undoubtedly provided

raw material for building the inhabitants’

living quarters.

Today, the land is now covered by the

broom plant, especially the mountain variety,

the dyer’s greenwood plant, briarwood

and common gorse, this latter shrub is

considered to be an invasive weed.

Moss, lichens and ferns are also

predominant, as well as plants in the

crassulaceae family, succulents known for

their small meaty leaves and flexible stems,

nicely suited to the climate in this area.

Cork oaks and other common species

of tree such as pines, chestnuts and

eucalyptus can be seen. Crops most often

associated with the area include wheat,

corn, barley, fava beans, peas, flax and

oats, grown for their value as food and

as material for clothing and domestic use.

Fairs, festivals and pilgrimages

Feast day of St. Peter in Taipas

June 29th

Festival at São Romão and

São Salvador de Briteiros

Held the second weekend in August

Weekly market day (Caldas das Taipas)

Monday

Don’t be surprised if you spot aquatic

animals, such as barbel, trout, ox-eye and

dace; birds, such as cuckoos, thrushes,

turtledoves and wood larks, as well as

wild animals: wild boar, rabbits and

partridges.

Useful Phone Numbers

G.N.R. (Police)

ph.: +351 253 576 117

Fire Brigade

ph.: +351 253 576 114

Briteiros Salvador Chemist’s (Pharmacy)

ph.: +351 235 572 655

Health Clinic of S. Salvador de Briteiros

ph.: +351 253 579 520

Taipas health centre

ph.: +351 253 479 750


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SOS Emergência (Emergency Services)

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Guided visits along the Rural

Walking Tours

Ecoturismo Montanha Viva

ph.: +351 919 660 625

[email protected]

Overview of the route

Location of arrival and departureGuimarães (from the City Park orChurch of N. Sra. da Consolação andSantos Passos (S. Gualter)

Nature and focus of the routeHistorical-cultural, environmental andlandscape appeal

Type of routeSmall route

Total distanceCovers 8,5 Km

Duration of the routeApproximately 3 hours to complete

Level of difficultyEasy

Amount of climbingRoute varies from heights of 210m to613m

Best time of year for the routeAll year round

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Introduction

Although the settlement of the Penha

mountain range dates back to

pre-historic times, it has only been in

the last three centuries that the

relationship has intensified between

people and this natural space in which

granite outcroppings and boulders

predominate. This spot serves as an

observation point looking down upon

the City of Guimarães and symbolizes

the tranquil blending of religiousness,

manifestations of the Christian faith and

a setting blessed by nature.

The Penha (or mountain) is a fascinating

place where grottoes, boulders, ravines,

springs and stately trees beckon you to

enjoy refreshing walks amongst elements

that depict the Christian devotion that

has transformed the area.

20 guimarães the penha route 21 guimarães the penha route

Long known as an inhospitable area of

difficult access amongst such rocky terrain,

nevertheless, occupation of the area,

namely the religious presence as we know

it today, began in 1702 when a French

hermit by the name of William Marino,

after his travels through Galicia and the

north of Portugal, chose the Santa

Catarina mountains where he settled in

one of the existing natural grottos.

A member of the Order of Saint Anthony,

the hermit chose the secluded spot to

live a contemplative life of a monk. Once

the grotto was made liveable, the hermit

is said to have had a small sculpture made

in Braga of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which

he then placed in his abode for devotional

purposes. This action is considered to be

the founding moment of the grotto as

the Hermitage of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,

the name in use today.

After a group of hunters on the mountain

unexpectedly came across the holy man,

PR3 The Penha Route

news of the hermit’s presence spread, and

the small grotto became a place of worship.

Still in the 18th century, a small community

of Discalced Carmelites, presided over by

Friar Joaquim de Santo Elias, occupied the

spot following the hermit. This is the

community that continued and expanded

the worship services and the devotion to

the image of the Virgin, building a simple

house of charity.

Near the grotto other spaces were

adapted, known today as the Hermit’s

Cellar, the Grotto of Our Lady of Mt.

Carmel, the Grotto of Father Caldas, the

Chapel of Saint Christopher, the

Suspended Garden, the Hanging Rock

and the Casa do Despacho. These works

were the result of the hermit’s labours,

with the help of generous alms and

offerings collected at that time to advance

the process of making the space one of

worship and devotion.

During the second half of the 19th

century, for the most part, the intention

was to administer and increase the existing

devotion surrounding the holy image and

hermitage of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel at

Penha as well as to bring together the

nearby aspects of natural, monumental,

religious, historical and cultural value with

the sacred space. Places of worship and

popular devotion to divine figures

emerged.

On Penha Mountain, devotion to Saint

Elias, the patron saint of sleep, began along

side the grotto-hermitage of Our Lady

of Mt. Carmel. Devotion to Our Lady of

Mt. Carmel is at the heart of other

expressions of Marian devotion, such as

Our Lady of Penha and Our Lady of

Lourdes. It is related to the establishment

of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Mt.

Carmel at Penha.

This religious association began quite

some time before its Statutes were

officially drawn up and approved by

decree on March 28th, 1872. Since then,

the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Mt.

Carmel at Penha, over time, has indeed

achieved the original goals

it had set for itself, such as the

administration of the space and its legacy,

the encouragement of worship, the

celebration of feast days related to the

saintly figures associated with Penha

Mountain, and the preservation and

tourist valorization of the area.

Since the first adaptation of a grotto into

a place of devotion to the Virgin until the

present day, the Penha Mountain area has

undergone extensive transformations. No

longer wild and inhospitable, the

surroundings are quite pleasant and relaxing,

where visitors come to enjoy spiritual

comfort and a natural park setting quite

able to provide unforgettable moments of

leisure activity just waiting to be discovered.

23 guimarães the penha route22 guimarães the penha route

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2 The Convent of Santa Marinha

da Costa (Pousada)

On this site are the vestiges of a pre-

Roman temple; however, local tradition

tells of the founding in 1154 of a convent

on the spot by Queen Mafalda, wife of

King Afonso Henriques, who gave it to

the Order of the Cónegos Regrantes de

Santo Agostinho. In 1528, this order was

replaced by monks belonging to the

Order of St. Jerome. The forecourt of the

church has a terraced staircase dating to

the second half of the 18th century at

the top of which is the entrance to the

church, a Rococo façade notable for its

statues of religious figures. The dome of

the main chapel is in granite, of the

Renaissance style. The Rococo organ box,

balustrade and choir, in gold leaf and

painted to resemble marble, are attributed

to Frei José de Santo António Vilaça.

The main chapel celebrants’ chairs are

beautiful neo-Classical sculpted work from

the mid-19th century by the Italian artist

Luigi Chiari whereas the choir benches,

Chapel of Saint Catherine

This is a small chapel hidden amongst the

boulders of the mountain which has

an antique carved, portable pulpit in the

form of a chalice. António Caldas states

that the chapel was “most likely the work

of the poorest shepherds” and the

invocation of the saint was “established

in 1738.” (CALDAS, 1996: 369) Despite

the lack of documented proof perhaps

this ancient chapel was erected on an

elevated spot as a response to the old

belief dating back to medieval times that

malefic forces and ill fate could be warded

off when religious practices were

established upon mountain tops, such as

the Santa Catarina Mountains.

Whether of medieval origin or whether

in the interest of naming the chapel after

the mountain range in question, what is

sure is the long-established desire to have

worship services available in the area. The

naming of the mountains after St.

Catherine derives from the fervent

devotion of the faithful, and the first

chapel was probably built in somewhere

in the 15th and 16th centuries. Over its

many centuries, the chapel has been

rebuilt and added to; its last renovation

took place in 2007 and included a total

restoration of the chapel and the

surrounding area.

dating from the late 18th century, were

designed by Carlos Cruz Amarante.

The building also has 17th century tilework

and other tiles made famous in the

Varanda de Frei Jerónimo. As for the

convent wing, following a fire in 1951 that

damaged the structure significantly, the

restoration undertaken at the time led

to its transformation into a pousada hotel

establishment.


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Grotto of Our Lady Lourdes

This rocky cavern is located next to the

monument dedicated to Pope Pius XI.

The marble image of Our Lady of Lourdes

was the gift of a benefactor, Fernando de

Castro Abreu Magalhães from Fafe, a

businessman living in Petrópolis, Brazil.

The placement of the statue to the Virgin

took place at the Feast of Our Lady of

Mt. Carmel on July 17th, 1892, with the

first annual pilgrimage to Penha on

September 8th, 1893, the same date as

the dedication of the Pope Pius XI

monument.

The image of Our Lady of Lourdes

was enthroned on July 19eth, 1893,

and from that date many annual

pilgrimages have been made to Penha.

Successive restoration of the spot has

occurred.

Devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes

originates with the apparitions of the

Virgin Mary to the shepherd girl,

Bernadette Soubirous, in that French

Pius IX

The theological doctrine behind the

dogma of the Immaculate Conception of

Mary officially confirmed the long-held

faith of the people in the Blessed Virgin.

In Portugal, the level of fervour reached

such height that a national monument

was called for to honour the declaration

made by Pope Pius XI. In the Sameiro

area of Braga, this intention was made a

reality with the construction in 1869 of

a monument and sanctuary dedicated to

Immaculate Conception of Mary.

At Penha, this memorable event was also

recalled on June 18th, 1882 with the laying

of the first stone of a monument (to be

inaugurated only 11 years later, on

September 8th, 1893) in honour of the

Pope who, in 1854 authorised that the

location be sanctified and dedicated to

devotions to The Most Immaculate Virgin

Mary. An image was given by the

benefactor Fernando de Castro Abreu

Magalhães: a statue in Carrara marble,

five metres tall, depicting Pope Pius IX

giving a blessing while holding the papal bull

Ineffabilis Deus, the one in which on

December 8th, 18541, in St. Peter’s Basilica,

he declared the dogma of the Immaculate

Conception.

This spot also has a fine look-out point

and is surrounded by twisting mountain

pathways and small trails.1 Before, in the encyclical Ubi Primum dated

February 2nd, 1849, Pope Pius IX had asked

his bishops to verify, in their respective

diocese, the feelings of the clergy and the

faithful with regard to the doctrine of the

Immaculate Conception of the Virgin.

town. The fame of that event, which took

place in 1858 in the grotto of Massabielle,

spread quickly beyond France. The

Portuguese, an emigrant in Brazil, ordered

the sculpture of the Virgin to be made,

for it to be placed on Penha, in similar

faith with the events that took place in

France and as a sign of thanksgiving and

praise to Our Lady, to Penha and to the

people of Guimarães.


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Penha Sanctuary

Other buildings of a religious nature had

existed on the spot of the current

sanctuary, the work of the renowned

architect, António Marques da Silva. The

design was approved in January of 1931.

The selection of any spot for the building

the sanctuary would require that there

be sufficient space for the celebration of

an outdoor mass since this would be in

following with the tastes and customs of

the faithful.

In June of 1932, the main chapel of the

Sanctuary was blessed and consecrated

to worship since the pulpit had already

been built and a holy image of Our Lady

of the Immaculate Conception placed at

the main altar. The blessing was performed

by the Monsignor João António Ribeiro.

In the same year, a large gathering of

pilgrims took place for the first time on

the patio courtyard of the Sanctuary, with

an altar being erected in front of the

already built main chapel. In the following

and enjoy the city of Guimarães and the

surrounding area below.

With the construction work taken up

again, the main body of the sanctuary

structure, done in a modern architectural

style, was concluded at the end of 1945

along with the grand patio, the Hermit’s

Cellar, the flooring of the hermit’s grotto,

the construction of other observation

points and the building of a new cistern.

Located in a wide-open area chosen

specifically to accommodate the

multitudes of the faithful for an open-air

mass or other outdoor religious events,

the Sanctuary was consecrated and

inaugurated on September 14th 1947,

the day of the annual pilgrimage, by His

Eminence the Cardinal of Lisbon, D.

Manuel Gonçalves Cerejeira. Only two

years later, the cross was placed on the

bell tower, with its twin bell openings,

constituting the largest carillon in the

North of Portugal.

years, work was slow, with the lack of

funds causing them to discontinue in 1937

and 1938.

On 13 February 1939, a fire in the main

chapel and the sacristy did partial damage

to the Sanctuary, still under construction,

and worked was stopped again.

As an immediate response to come back

from this adversity, a wide-reaching capital

initiative was begun, the result of which

produced such an amount that, in the

following month (March 3rd),

administrators were able to authorize the

reconstruction of the Penha Sanctuary

from the monetary donations collected

and the fund-raising activities underway.

In the 1940s, extensive renovation and

building works were initiated, the largest

of which were the roofing on the

sanctuary. Behind the church, an

observation area was strategically built,

offering the vantage point of 600m of

elevation to view expansive landscape

In the Grand Hall of the Sanctuary, an

exhibition is on display.


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Chapel of Saint Christopher

The Chapel of Saint Christopher was

built upon enormous boulders and next

to a castle-like tower, forming a type of

grotto where devotions are held to Our

Lady of Mt. Carmel at Penha. A rustic

stairway leads us to a spot of

compartment-like openings in the granite

that have been turned into the chapel

dedicated to St. Christopher.

This structure was initially called the

“Reliquary House” or simply “The

Reliquary”. The chapel’s construction was

begun in 1880 and concluded in the

following year (on June 18th, 1881) and

consecrated on June 18th, 1882.

Built to house an image representative of

St. Christopher (a gift of the motorists of

Guimarães for veneration of the faithful),

the chapel was only able to hold mass

beginning in 1936. This was the year that

the image of the saint was taken in

procession along with images of Our Lady

of the Winds and Our Lady of the Seas (a

Grotto of Our Lady ofMt. CarmelThis is a rock formation resulting from a

cluster of enormous boulders. The Grotto

of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, according to

tradition, was carved out from between

boulders and is said to be the place where

the Carmelite monk William Marino made

his spiritual retreat in the 18th century.

A visionary who saw the spot’s potential

for worship based on hermitage style

contemplation, Marino, the founder of

Penha’s religious heritage, provided for

the continuation of a religious presence

after his death. It is said that his last will

and testament in 1731bequeathed the

spot to the Carmelites of Guimarães.

Later, worship services were discontinued

and forgotten for nearly a century.

Only in 1870 did a new phase of religious

presence and expansion take place on

Penha with the beginning of renovation

works. On July 23rd, 1871, the day

designated as the pilgrimage day for the

patroness Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the

grotto-hermitage showed off its new

renovations, which were much more

becoming, made possible by the alms

and offerings of many faithful and

benefactors.

gift of the festival commission, also in 1936).

The edifice was consecrated and given

the formal name of Chapel of Saint

Christopher on July 25th, 1936.

Nowadays, it represents yet another place

of worship on Penha that is frequently

visited by the faithful. These are mainly

motorists from Guimarães, in particular

taxi drivers, (or travellers in motor

vehicles) for whom St. Christopher is their

protector.


Rock Climbing

The quality and originality of the rock,

the surrounding nature and the easy

access all make the cliffs of Penha an

excellent spot for all types of rock climbing.

With 30 trails from the 3rd to the 8th

level, this adventure location can be

enjoyed by climbers who are just starting

out, such as young children, up to the

most experienced ones.

equipment to be used

- top ropes, in stainless steel, with ropes

and carabiners.

- parabolts and rings in stainless steel

All safety hardware is approved by the

CE norms in force.

outfitter

The work of outfitting and preparing the

climbing trails was done by a team led by

a climbing instructor and outfitter qualified

by the National Climbing School (Escola

Nacional de Montanhismo) of the FCMP.

Equipment, Facilities and Services

The Guimarães Suspended Cable Car

The only one in the north of Portugal,

the Guimarães Suspended Cable Car has

been in operation since 1994. It offers a

journey of 1,700 metres from the city of

Guimarães to the top of Penha Mountain,

climbing 400 metres in just a few minutes.

It is possible to transport bicycles inside

the cable cars during the trip up or back.

contact:ph.: +351 253 515 085www.turipenha.pt

rules of use

When practicing this sport, each

individual must take personal

responsibility for the inherent risks of

this type of activity. Whether climbing

individually or in a group, this activity is

strictly at your own risk.

The Penha Campgrounds

Created in 1950, this campground is located

on the top of Penha Mountain. It offers a

lodge, able to house 20 people, with a

kitchen, TV room, fireplace and sofas.

The site is paradise of nature nestled in

the wooded area and totally integrated

into the Penha landscape.

contact:ph.: +351 253 515 912/ 253 515 [email protected] [email protected]


Fauna and Flora

The Penha Mountain offers a verdant

landscape that provides shelter for several

types of animals and at the same time

gives Guimarães an abundance of fresh

air, making it “the lungs of the city.”

The wooded area of untouched, lush

nature occupies the majority of the 60

hectares in total. Making their home here

are many types of birds, such as thrushes,

wrens, & jays who share the mountain

with rabbits, squirrels, foxes, badgers,

moles, skunks and boars.

Penha is also a natural paradise and

sanctuary for various types of trees, which

make a green swath whose energy spills

over into the surrounding area.

Although dense in vegetation, plant life

is limited to just a few types, with some

exotic plants from the Orient

predominating.

The species of tree most frequently found

are Australia blackwood,

Local festivals and events

Feast day of St. Catherine

3rd Sunday in June

Feast day of Our Lady of Mt Carmel

at Penha

July 16th or the following Sunday

Feast day of St. Christopher

(patron saint of motorists and travellers)

July 27 or the following Sunday

Pilgrimage to Penha

Second Sunday in September

Portugal cup in Mountain Biking

(Downhill and Cross Country)

Septembre

Rampa da Penha Motorised race

(National championships) Septembre

Guided tours of the route

Irmandade da Penha

ph.: +351 253 414114

[email protected]

www.penhaguimaraes.com

strawberry medrone, plane trees, cork

oak, walnut, fig trees, and birch, as well as

some varieties such as fir trees, acacia,

pine, linden trees, olive trees, cypress,

cedar, chestnut and oak.

Useful phone numbers

Tourism Information Office – Pr. S. Tiago

ph.: +351 253 518 790

Guimarães Tourism Board

ph.: +351 253 518 [email protected]

Penha Tourism Welcome Centre

ph.: +351 253 414114

[email protected]

P.S.P. (Local police)

ph.: +351 253 513 334


ph.: 118

SOS Emergencia (Emergency Services)

ph.: 112

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The Penha Route

1. Convento de Santa Marinha

da Costa (Pousada)

2. Chapel of Saint Catherine

3. Pius IX

4. Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

5. Penha Sanctuary

6. Chapel of Saint Christopher

7. Grotto of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

a. City park

b. Church of N. Sra da Consolação e

Santos Passos (S. Gualter)

c. The Penha Campgrounds

PR

São Torcato and its Gristmills

1. Monastery of SãoTorcato

2. Ethnographic Museum of SãoTorcato

3. Battlefield at Campo da Ataca

4. Water mills

5. The mill at Sub-Devesa

6. Chapel at Fonte do Santo

7. Parish Church of São Torcato

PR2

The Citânia Route

1. Museum of the Castrejo Culture

2. Church of São Salvador de Briteiros

3. Grist Mill at Requeixo, Donim

4. Pre-Roman Ruins at Citânia de Briteiros

5. Water Mills at the Várzea (Febras) River

7

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PR3

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36 guimarães walking tours

special precautions and expectedvisitor behaviourDo not stray off the marked paths andtrails.

Be careful with the cattle you mayencounter. Altho ugh of mildtemperament, they become agitated whenstrangers approach their young.

Avoid making loud noises or otherdisturbances that could bother local residents.

Observe fauna only at a distance,preferably with binoculars.

Do not pick or damage the flora.

Take your rubbish with you and disposeof it properly in the bins. Do not throwlitter along the paths.

Always close gateways behind you.

Respect private property.

Do not make fire of any kind.

No plant or rock samples may be takenaway from the area.

Speak in a friendly manner to whicheverlocal residents you may encounter, sayingyou are on a rural walking tour, if need be.

Inácio Sousa e Vasconcelos

Sociedade Martins Sarmento

Irmandade da Penha e Turipenha

Ecoturismo, Montanha Viva

Câmara Municipal de Guimarães

- Turismo

under the auspices of

with the collaboration of

walking tours a concept of

walking tour rout registeredand authorised by

trail markings along the route

correct trail wrong trail

trail goes tothe left

trail goes tothe right

information Tourism Information OfficePraça de S. TiagoPraça de S. Tiago4810-300 Guimarães

Tourism Information OfficeAlameda Alameda de S. Dâmaso, 834810-286 Guimarães

Guimarães Tourism BoardLargo Cónego José Maria Gomes4800-419 Guimarães

www.guimaraesturismo.com

ph.: +351 253 518 790

ph.: +351 253 412 450

ph.: +351 253 518 394fax: +351 253 515 134

[email protected]

Câmara Municipal GuimarãesTurismo © 2009 edition

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