A legal document from the early 16th century is connected to a specific structure in Penedono: the Pelourinho de Penedono. The surviving pillory was created at the beginning of the 16th century in connection with the new charter granted by King Manuel I on 27 November 1512. Today, the structure is classified as an IIP – Imóvel de Interesse Público, or Property of Public Interest. Its date of creation, the charter and its current classification give the pillory a distinctive place in Penedono’s heritage.
Traces of history in the town and beyond
Other places and names offer different ways to explore the past. Penedono was the birthplace of Álvaro Gonçalves Coutinho, known as Magriço. Another historical layer is present on Monte Airoso: the mountain is surrounded by a rampart dating from the Late Bronze Age. In Adobispo, both the Capela da Nossa Senhora da Conceição and the Capela do Senhor da Estrada date from the 18th century.
The Centro de Interpretação de Penedono focuses on dolmens and the necropolises of Senhora do Monte (Penela da Beira / Castainço) and Lameira de Cima (Antas). Its subject matter ranges from dolmens to two specifically named necropolises. The Feira Medieval de Penedono offers a different focus: an immersive historical re-enactment in the town’s historic centre.
The Loja Interativa de Turismo de Penedono is also a useful landmark in the historic centre: it is located at the foot of Castelo de Penedono. The Fontanário Quinhentista is one of Penedono’s places of tourist interest. Historical themes and practical landmarks thus sit side by side in the town, though they do not all represent the same period or character.
Pilgrimages, festivals and regional cuisine
The festival calendar brings recurring religious occasions together with a range of activities. The Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Cabeça takes place every year on 25 March and includes a walking pilgrimage, a Mass and a procession. The Romaria de Santa Eufémia takes place annually on 15 and 16 September. The Santuário de Santa Eufémia is set on an eight-hectare site; its chapel’s present-day structure is believed to date from the beginning of the 19th century.
Regional products are sold at the Romaria de Santa Eufémia fair, including Marrã: pork cooked in wine in an iron pot. The São Pedro festival on 29 June includes an annual fair, a Mass and a procession in honour of the patron saint. An ethnographic parade showcases local traditions. Together, the celebrations illustrate different forms of religious and community life; Marrã adds a named regional dish to this picture.
Routes between the Douro, Beira and chestnut groves
The routes also have different focuses. The PR1 – Rota do Sirigo connects distinctive landscapes with religious and geological heritage, as well as the Castanheiro da Guerra natural monument. The PR2 – Trilhos do Ouriço e da Castanha centres on chestnut groves and their rural surroundings; along the trail, visitors can experience the region’s characteristic flora and fauna. The PR3 – Rota do Azeite passes through olive groves and a transition landscape strongly shaped by Beira on its way to the Douro. Those interested in landscapes alongside religious and geological heritage will find a different mix of themes on the Rota do Sirigo than on the chestnut- or olive-focused routes.
The Miradouro de Santa Luzia offers another perspective. It is located at one of the highest points in the parish of Póvoa de Penela and offers views of the Douro landscapes as well as mountainous scenery. This viewpoint therefore brings two different landscape types into view. Together with the thematically varied routes, it offers options for putting cultural history, religious traditions, or nature and landscape at the heart of your visit.
Discover more destinations: Penedono, Mortágua, Santa Comba Dão, Tondela, Carregal do Sal, Sernancelhe, Cadaval, Cinfães.
For the broader travel overview: Viseu.
