Hiking from “Rendufe” to “Santa Maria de Émeres” (Valpaços), Hiking, Trekking, Walking Trails, Tracks, Pedestrian Routes, Portugal

This hike connects the villages of ‘Rendufe’ and ‘Santa Maria de Emeres’ in Valpaços county. I start walking on the sidewalk of Rua Formosa, in Rendufe, and down it to find the asphalt outside the village. The surrounding landscape consists mainly of vast expanses of olive groves, chestnut groves, vineyards and orchards mapping fields on more or less dense geometric patterns, according to the maturity of the crop.

The surrounding landscape consists mainly of vast expanses of olive groves, chestnut groves, vineyards and orchards mapping fields on geometric patterns…

Chestnuts are waiting inside the “hedgehog” the right time to see the light of day. It will not be much. An old open barn door announces a land fallow, even before the short climb on the tarmac. In the vineyards, the grapes are just a few days of being cut to produce the precious nectar that feeds the soul and raises the spirit. The harvest continues to be a reason to great conviviality and celebration in most of our villages and towns all over the country and here is no exception.
From the edge of the road I am invited to taste some figs, that in tree will be damaged, she tell me. I thank and refuse politely but repent right away. The fruit freshly harvest of the tree is the tastiest and although I have finished breakfast just over 30 minutes, I shouldn’t refused a fresh fruit. It would also serve as a pretext for a chat with the friendly lady who was picking figs for lunch. It will be for a next time for sure.
In Portugal if someone saw a stranger on the road we offers up what we have on hand. Is this host that characterizes us and that is still easy to find in our people.
I come to the village of “Santa Maria de Émeres”, entering by garden “Eng. Francisco Tavares Baptista”. A higher pedestrian walkway with stone pillars and wooden board cuts the garden where we can observe a “nora” and a wheel, water harvesting mechanisms of a well.
I continue walking to primary school where I turn to the “Direita” street. Step the “Alminhas” and later against the installation of a mill with wooden screw press and a beautiful evocative tile panel of the harvest. I submit myself to the “Pipa” fountain where you can still see the stone aqueduct that feeds it. Annex, the washing, under a roof of sheet metal that has seen better days, was empty. I do not know if the water still runs through the aqueduct, even if it is still collected at the fountain by the villagers for daily chores, but surely the “Pipa” fountain has had its importance and perhaps deserved a more dignified destiny. Its originality has the potential to be a tourist attraction in the region.
I return to the center of the village to find the Church. In its front, a beautiful house with coat of arms also arouses my curiosity. A few dozen meters later I am at “Largo do Cruzeiro do Sr. dos Aflitos “. At the door of a typical house almonds dry in the sun. That glittering golden welcomes the passers by.
In “Cantilhão” street, with a high degree of slope, I begin the ascent to the bandstand. Upon arrival, I rest in the back garden, enjoying the leafy shade. Among the treetops I saw the mountains in the distance.
When I arrive at the Parish Council building, I reverse the direction of travel. At “Negrilhos” street I went down the village, returning to the primary school where I finish the walk.