The Small Route of Banreses begins and ends at the information panel located at the Sanctuary of Santo Ambrósio, 5 km from the village of Vale da Porca. This sanctuary is one of the main places of worship and pilgrimage, with the pilgrimages of Santo Ambrósio being the largest religious event in the Northeast of Trás-os-Montes, attracting tens of thousands of devotees throughout the year. Leaving the sanctuary, the route heads towards the Banreses bridge, reached by a small detour, which then continues to the Vale da Porca Cenozoic Sediments Geosite, crossing agricultural fields and the Salselas stream. When you reach the Romanesque bridge of Vale da Porca, you can enjoy a picnic area by the Azibo River before returning to the starting point at the sanctuary. The entire route is part of the Morais Site of Community Importance (Natura 2000 Network), which stands out as one of the largest continuous units of serpentinite (metamorphic rock) in Portugal, as well as being home to the largest population of Iberian wolves in the country, making it of great geological, botanical, and faunal interest.

START POINT

Santuário de Santo Ambrósio (41º 31' 40.55" N I 6 º 52' 34.89" W)
41º 31' 40.55" N
6º 52' 34.89" W

TYPE

SHORT ROUTE

EXTENSION

8.2 KM

DURATION

2H40

DIFFICULTY

EASY