PR7 MTG - White Poios Route

The White Poios correspond to a Tor – a typical granitic formation where the blocks accumulate in situ, respecting the granite's system of joints. In this location is the chair of Viriato, like an authentic throne made by the hands of nature.

It is the intrinsic characteristics of the granites that give the Serra da Estrela landscape unique peculiarities, as if the human hand had passed there to "arrange" the stones that rise proudly towards the sky.

The Nave de Santo António, or Argenteira, performs an important ecological function by regulating the gradual absorption and release of water by the cervum – a herbaceous plant that also constitutes an important resource for livestock. In this place, there is a fountain and a building used by shepherds as a shelter.

Still in the natural landscape appears the Covão d’Ametade, a glacial origin depression located downstream from Covão Cimeiro, formerly a cervunal pasture, which has been afforested with birches along the banks of the Zêzere river.

On the detour to the Poço do Inferno appears the magnificent landscape of Covão da Abelha, where at the bottom of the gorge, at the confluence of two waterways that give rise to the Ribeira de Beijames, is the Aguilhão – a considerable rocky massif topped by large stones that overlap one another. The water flows calmly, pure and crystalline, among steep slopes covered by scree.

Next to the trail is one of the many religious monuments found in the Municipality of Manteigas and an important vestige of Portuguese folk art – Almas. It is common to find candles and lanterns lit, left by people passing by, or even offerings of flowers.

The yew, creeping juniper, birch, wild apple tree, tramazeira, arando, and water bean are some examples of species present on the route.

The Bonelli's eagle, rock thrush, and peregrine falcon are birds facing a very high risk of extinction. The water mole, mountain lizard, and horned viper are also present.