Culture and
Heritage

With the Sicó Outdoor Centre, you can take a stroll along roads and through villages left by the Romans, or journey even further back to prehistoric times to admire megalithic monuments built with almost eerie precision. This is a place where culture and heritage reveal themselves at every turn, showcasing the oldest traces of human settlement in the heart of Portugal.

Are you ready for trails that are more than just paths – real journeys back in time that bring you closer to a millennia of history? Start your adventure on the Roman Trail, hiking along ancient roads and bridges to the medieval tower, Manueline palace and Roman ruins of the Monumental Complex of Santiago da Guarda.

Would you rather explore a region where megaliths take shape? Follow the Ramalhal Hiking Trail, passing the dolmens of Rego da Murta – funerary monuments that are more than 5,000 years old – and an Iron Age settlement perched high in the Alvaiázere mountains!

Pillories that symbolise municipal power, defensive fortifications, churches and chapels adorned with surprising artistic details, manor houses, former royal palaces… Come and discover these and other stories of local identity along the Sicó Outdoor Centre’s culture and heritage trails! Take the opportunity to discover – in the midst of surprising landscapes – the historical and artistic value of religious, civil and military architecture. Because in this region, more than stone and mortar, every building is a page in the book of living memories of the past!

Start by exploring the historic villages on the Vilas Trail, where you can discover the charms of agricultural landscapes, hear the echoes of power at the pillories in Chão de Couce and Avelar and feel the opulence of royalty in the Quinta de Cima Palace.

Then, take the Ladeia Trail, passing through historic villages such as Alvorge, Vale Florido and Ateanha. Step inside Alvorge Parish Church to admire the main altar painted in 1553 by Belchior da Fonseca, and finish at the ruins of the Torre da Ladeia.

Looking for more symbolic places? On the Bonfim Trail, you can pass by the Ponte da Cal and the pillory in the historic centre of Ansião before finishing your hike at Senhor do Bonfim. And on the Pinhais Trail, admire the Constantina Chapel, a 17th-century sanctuary built following after the Miracle of the Holy Fountain.

Between the valleys and hills of Ansião and Alvaiázere, the rural spirit lives on – in the stone houses, narrow streets and the way of life that has stood the test of time. Come and see it for yourself on one of the trails shaped by the natural rhythm of the Sicó Outdoor Centre region. Photograph the windmills and watermills, peek into public washhouses and community ovens and discover local crafts and other traditional trades.

Want to start your cultural and heritage journey at the Monumental Complex of Santiago da Guarda? Take the Vento Trail, which winds through stone villages and past the Outeiro and Melriça mills, right in the very heart of Portugal!

Prefer to visit the Alvaiázere Municipal Museum? The Por Trilhos de Al-Baizir Trail takes you past chapels, churches and historic alleys to the museum, where local culture comes alive through exhibitions of traditional crafts and archaeology.

Curious to discover the old irrigation systems? Take the Picotas Trail and climb Monte da Ovelha in the Serra do Anjo da Guarda – where you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic panoramic view over valleys and mountains!

The flavours and traditions of the Sicó Outdoor Centre region are reflected in the local cuisine. So, if you like to sit down at the table (recharging for your next hike), come and discover the most authentic expressions of the culture and heritage of Ansião and Alvaiázere. Among the iconic flavours are Rabaçal DOP cheese, Chícharo de Alvaiázere (a type of grass pea) and the region’s olive oil and honey – the result of generations of hard work and the natural wealth of the Terras de Sicó.

Fancy trying the Rabaçal DOP cheese? Follow the Rabaçal Cheese Trail (included in the Terras de Sicó Trail), cross green valleys and through historic villages between Penela and Alvorge, and finish your hike at a local producer, where you can taste the iconic cured cheese made from the milk of sheep and goats.

Or how about Chícharo de Alvaiázere? Look for a tavern or restaurant serving regional cuisine and enjoy this uniquely flavoured legume, the main ingredient in traditional recipes such as chicharada or chícharos with cod, the star dish of the “O Chícharo da Serra” food festival.

Want to take home a bottle of certified organic olive oil with a rich flavour and smooth texture? And while you’re at it, how about a jar of high-quality honey, the result of the region’s diverse flora and unique climate? Venture out on the Azeite Trail, discover ancient olive groves and then buy olive oil, honey and other local flavours in markets and shops selling regional produce.