Following on my bike tour in Portugal, today is the report of another day cycling, with the discovery of new places.
After cycling at the highest points of Serra da Estrela, between snow and ice, today was a day for cycling at the foot of the mountain.
We cycled in Cova da Beira, one of the most fertile places in the country, known for the delicious fruit that is produced here, such as cherries and peaches.
We started our tour, around 40 km, in the small Teixoso village, where the houses built with granite and the Church stand out. From here, we pedaled towards Belmonte, land of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the Portuguese navigator who discovered the sea route to Brazil.
During the route, almost all on a beautiful dirt road, on flat ground, always overlooking the majestic Serra de Estrela and with the Zêzere river close by, we cycled in the middle of an extensive corn production field and close to huge plantations of fruit trees.
We crossed a large and beautiful farm, Quinta da Lageosa, currently an agricultural school, through wonderful bridges, centuries-old houses, until we reached one of the places we wanted to visit, the inigmatic Cetum Cellas Tower.
The Centum Cellus Tower is a Roman ruin that was built in the SEC.I, about 2.000 years ago. It’s about 12 meters high and the openings for windows and doors on the facades are very visible.
Around the tower, on the ground floor, there are traces of other ruins, whose usefulness hasn’t yet been discovered. For those who are planning a vacation in the Serra da Estrela area, a visit to this area is something that should be considered.
Note: Due to the confinement rules we didn’t enter Belmonte city, which is worth visiting and whose main attractions are the castle, the Cabral Pantheon and the Discoveries Museum.
