This hike takes place in the magnificent Serra de Montejunto, starting and finishing at the Environmental Interpretation Centre of the Serra de Montejunto Protected Landscape, right in the heart of the mountain.

Serra de Montejunto

The Serra de Montejunto belongs to a characteristic structural unit called the "Estremadura Limestone Massif". This geographically discontinuous massif, orientated NE-SW, includes the Sicó, Alvaiázere and Porto de Mós mountain ranges, with the Serra de Montejunto extending south-westwards to the border between the western edge and the Tagus basin. From a geological point of view, the mountain range is predominantly made up of limestone rocks, with typical surface forms, including steep, deep valleys and some small plateaus and depressions, as well as imposing crags, cliffs and rock faces. Acting as a great "sponge for receiving and absorbing" rainwater, which seeps through the numerous cracks and faults, a considerable number of caves and grottoes of varying sizes and shapes have formed underground.

Calçada dos Frades

Built in the 18th century to serve the construction and use of the Convent of Our Lady of the Snows of the Dominican Order. The Calçada dos Frades, discovered in some parts of the Serra de Montejunto, was built at the beginning of the 18th century to serve the construction and use of the Convent of Our Lady of the Snows of the Dominican Order. The necessary building materials, such as stones, stonework, bricks, tiles and decorative materials, such as tiles to line the interior walls, were transported along the Calçada by means of pack animals and carts. Supplies for the workers and then for the daily use of the Dominican friars, who lived there, were transported on the pavement, which ended at the door to a walled outdoor courtyard where they were unloaded for storage. The Calçada dos Frades served pilgrims to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, but fell into disuse with the opening of the tarmac road.

Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows

At the top of the Serra de Montejunto, stands the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, a place of pilgrimage since at least medieval times. It is only known that its construction predates the first Dominican convent, which was built at the top of the mountain in the 13th century. This chapel stands out for its simplicity, with only an image of Our Lady of the Snows from the 16th century. It has a tile panel in the side nave alluding to the history of the Dominican order.

Next to the high altar is a shallow grave with the following inscription: "AQUI IAS B(EL)CHIOR A NUNES MOSSO DA CAMARA DO INFFANTE DO DUARTE".

Its greatest asset is its geographical setting, located at the top of the Serra de Montejunto "Varanda da Estremadura", and its vast history. Every year, on 5 August, there is a pilgrimage to the chapel.

Real Ice Factory

Its construction began in 1741 and cost between 40 and 45 thousand cruzados, a megalomaniac expense for the time, in order to satisfy the great demand for ice that existed throughout the capital. It represented a major advance in the quality and hygiene of the process used to "produce" ice, since it was now made in the factory's tanks and not harvested after the wind had blown it into a heap, as had been the case until then.

The main purpose of its construction was to make up for the systematic shortages in supplies from the Serra do Coentral.
Almost everything we know about the work of the Royal Ice Factory is due to oral tradition, particularly the testimonies of descendants of people who worked in the ice-making industry.

During the hot season, the complicated task of transporting the ice to the kingdom's capital took place. First, the ice was transported on the backs of animals to overcome the steep slopes of the mountains. It was then transported by cart to the "snow boats" anchored in the Carregado Ditch. These boats completed the ice circuit, transporting it to Lisbon, the capital of the kingdom.

It is estimated that the Royal Ice Factory ceased operating at the end of the 19th century and fell into oblivion for almost a century.
The Royal Ice Factory complex has been considered by numerous international experts "as a unique case due to the originality of its structures and the reasonable state of conservation".

- Serra de Montejunto Protected Landscape Interpretation Centre - Royal Ice Factory National Monument - Calçada dos Frades - Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows - Dominican Convent - Mills - 360º view around Montejunto -