We get up early, we are in the Alvao Natural Park and we want to do a route to get to know the great attraction of the park, the Fisgas do Ermelo, natural waterfalls with a three hundred metre drop that form natural pools.
Ermelo
Ermelo
Ermelo
The Alvao Natural Park is a protected natural area, formed by the Alvao mountain range. Pine, oak and chestnut forests blend with natural pools and spectacular waterfalls. It is a pity that part of the park has suffered from forest fires, but the area is still impressive.
Ermelo
Our route starts in the charming village of Ermelo, eighteen kilometres and about eight hundred metres of elevation gain.
You can visit the Fisgas from several points, there is a detour about four kilometres before reaching Ermelo from which you can access a viewpoint from which you can see them (although a little far away) and the canyon. There is also a path from Varzigueto to visit them or from Ermelo.
Ermelo
Ermelo is a small town that preserves the essence of the old villages. Granite houses with slate roofs, espigueiros, a pelourinho, narrow cobbled streets... it is well worth a visit. It is curious because from the stone walls of the orchards hang enormous pumpkins.
Pumpkins
On the road
We start the route (it is perfectly marked but even so we always carry one downloaded on our mobile phone), the path takes us through a beautiful forest until we reach the height of the Ôlo river. From here we climb through a pine forest until the path opens up in front of the canyon.
On the road
On the road
We reach a viewpoint (not the one on the road) from where we can see the impressive waterfalls. Although it is summer, there is a lot of water in them. We continue through the pine forest, where resin is being collected, up to the pools themselves, what a special place... what a pity that the weather is not suitable for bathing.
Fisgas do Ermelo
Fisgas do Ermelo
From here we continue upstream to the small village of Varzigueto, where a group of goats graze in the forest.
On the road
Varzigueto
Varzigueto is a small typical Portuguese village, cobbled streets, espigueiros, stone houses, orchards.... They have a bar, Taberna Martins, so we decided to take a break.
Varzigueto
Varzigueto
Espigueiro
We continue our way back to the pools. From here the path takes us to the viewpoint on the road. The mountain range is really beautiful.
Woman in Varzigueto
We continue our way towards Ermelo, from here we can see the Piocas de Abajo, some spectacular pools connected to each other. The path returns to the forest until it reaches the Ponte de Várzea, a medieval bridge of Roman origin. It is beautiful.
On yhe road
Viewpoint on the road
Piocas de Abajo
Two more kilometres and we are back in Ermelo. The route is easy and the views and the forest are spectacular.
On the road
On the road
We stop at the Sabores do Alvao restaurant in Ermelo for a beer and ask if we can get something to eat. It is four o'clock in the afternoon and although it is very late for Portuguese time they say yes. The menu is the same for everyone, a delicious beef stew with salad, rice and potatoes, house wine and coffee. They are very nice and invite us to a shot of mead.
On the road
Ermelo
Vitela
On the way back to Celorico we stopped at the supermarket to replenish our stocks.
The house in Celorico is great, quiet and we enjoyed the wonderful garden.
Our accommodation
Taberna Martins in Varzigueto.
Lunch: Sabores do Alvao restaurant: homemade menu with stewed beef, salad, rice and potatoes, aperitif beer, homemade wine and coffee €12/pax.
Accommodation: Casa do Eido and Casa da Viúva for 6 pax 100€/night (16€/pax night).
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