This proposed walk starts in the car park of Monserrate Palace. From there, we'll follow the slopes of Tapada de Monserrate, following the water's path towards Aldeia do Penedo, which will offer us fantastic views of the entire north Atlantic coast, especially the various beaches that can be seen all the way to Ericeira. We'll have the opportunity to see the Lagoa dos Mosqueiros, pass by the Ermida do Senhor do Rio Velho, in the village of Gigarós and pass the Convent of Santa Ana do Carmo in Colares, which was the third convent of the Carmelite order founded in Portugal.

Penedo Village

A Penedo Village It still preserves some old houses, which give it a typical village image. Situated at the top of a hill, visitors can stroll through its steep, winding streets and alleys, passing by the fountain and the cross, located right in the centre of the village, as well as the centuries-old chapels.

Penedo is the last place on the Portuguese mainland where the traditional "Império" or "Espírito Santo" festivities are held, which continue to exist in the Azores, particularly on the island of Terceira.

These festivities are known as the Divine Holy Spirit Festivities and have an ancient history, dating back most directly to the reign of King Dinis and his wife, Queen Santa Isabel.

Village of Gigarós

The place name must be unique in Portugal. We know how suitable the Colarejas lands are for producing fruit and wine. Those agricultural products (apples, lemons and grapes) were transported and packaged since ancient times in canastras or gigas, usually round or rectangular, made of chestnut strips or wickerwork.

Chestnut trees were abundant on the slopes of the Sintra mountains, at the edge of the town of Colares, and even today at the Urca site you can see traces of the old groves. Wicker is found on the land adjacent to the Rio das Maçãs.

In Gigarós they made Gigas, which means the place where the utensils were made and where the craftsmen who made them lived. This is the explanation for the term Gigarós.

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- Lagos de Monserrate - Aldeia de Gigarós - Lagoa dos Mosqueiros - Aldeia do Penedo - Quintas de Palácios - Convento de Santa Ana do Carmo - Ermida do Senhor do Rio Velho - Natural landscapes -