Towns and Villages

The name Porto de Mós is thought to have come about during the Roman occupation of the area, when the River Lena was navigable and there was a port in the town where millstones would be loaded and unloaded from a local quarry.

The Municipal Museum clearly shows the area's millenary occupation. Various fossils and remnants of human occupation from different periods are on display, such as chipped and polished stone objects from the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, coins, and iron spears.

Among the traditional villages and stone mills, traces left by the dinosaurs can still be seen along the Pedreira do Galinha trail, and of Roman occupation, of which the cobbled road in Alqueidão da Serra is the best example. The Jurassic Viewpoint, dedicated to the earliest eras of which there are traces, is a monument made up of 15 limestone blocks representing the main eras of the period. The monument stands at an altitude of 500 metres, providing an unobstructed view of the Batalha Monastery and Porto de Mós castle.

Having been rebuilt by order of King Sancho I in the 13th century, two centuries later, the castle was transformed into a fortified palace with an unusual layout, which it has been maintained to this day.

Several nearby locations are worth a visit, such as the Arco da Memória in the parish of Arrimal. Built in the late 16th century by the Cistercian monks, it marked the land donated to the church by King Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. Another historical landmark in the municipality is the CIBA - Battle of Aljubarrota Interpretation Centre, in the location of the battle that led to Portugal maintaining its independence in 1385. The centre contains several exhibition areas where you can learn more about the historical event.

In Mira de Aire, the MIAT - Industrial and Handicraft Textile Museum details the period during which the region was one of the country’s largest centres for this type of production. It features permanent exhibitions showcasing machinery and objects from the period and interactive rooms that tell the story of the production process.

In Juncal, two religious spaces stand out: the Chapel of Our Lady of Fátima and Casa Solarenga and the Church of Saint Michael. The chapel was built in the 20th century, fulfilling a promise made to Our Lady of Fatima. Records show that the church has existed since the 16th century, dedicated to the same patron saint, though it was just a chapel at the time.

Porto de Mós is located in the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, with its limestone slopes, the undersides of which contain beautiful galleries that can be visited in caves such as the Santo António, Alvados, and Mira d’Aire caves.

Limestone was used in the region's architecture, and dry stone walls can still be seen scattered throughout the mountains to this day. For a better view of the landscape, don't miss the Chão das Pias viewpoint. Providing an unobstructed view of the town and the Lena river valley, the viewpoint features urban artwork by Rui Basílio, which pays homage to these walls.

Other notable features of the Natural Park include the Alvados and Arrimal Lakes. The Alvados Lake was once used for clothes washing and has long been the setting for Ascension Day celebrations (usually in May, 40 days after Easter Sunday). The Arrimal Lakes are three bodies of water formed from accumulated rainwater and used for irrigation. These calm areas invite visitors to have a picnic by the water’s edge.

Don't miss a walk along the Ecopista, which, reusing infrastructures that were once of practical use to the population - in this case, the old Bezerra Railroad - will take you through excavated stone tunnels and breathtaking views of the Serra dos Candeeiros.

To finish the tour, you can recharge your batteries at the Almirante Vítor Trigueiros Crespo Park - Green Park in Porto de Mós. The park, which covers an area of 700m2, boasts an extraordinary landscape, where you can enjoy views of the surrounding mountains and the town's castle.

Don't miss your chance to visit a municipality rich in history and natural heritage.