São Pedro do Sul Things to Do Tips by J_Antunes

Manhouce: waterfalls and ancient houses

Manhouce is a lovely old town. Full of granite houses and set in a lusty valley it is known by the singing of its women. The village grew because there was an ancient route from Porto to Viseu. It is a very old town and it was once considered the 2nd most typical of Portugal (today it is less characteristical due to progress). Although the town is nice for me the best is the river and the many poços, small lagoons where the water stops and where there are small waterfalls.

Website: http://www.manhouce.com/

Fujaco: a STEEP village

Well what can I say of Fujaco. I thought it would be a completely waste of time. But it wasn't. It was actually a very interesting place to go. The village has absolutely nothing. It doesn't have a supermarket, nor a restaurant, a coffee or a gas station, nothing. And it is full of old people and goats everywhere. And then there are this charming houses and verrrrryyy steep streets (like nothing i have seen in my life, you have to grab to the banister to climb). But the old people climb it like they were piece of cake. Is it possible that I'm getting old?

The village where the dead killed the living

Aldeia da Pena is a small village in the bottom of a mountain. The village is all covered in local stone, has a tourist store and a bar and that is pretty much it. There are many typical products offered by them in there. The village is known by the place where the dead killed the living. The village didn't had a cemetery so everytime anyone died they had to take the body out of the village through the steep road. In one of those times, the man that was carrying the coffin slipped and it fell on his head killing him. Not exactly the zombie story you were expecting, lol.

São Macário: An old story and a great view

São Macário is a man whose legend tells that was very jellous and used to spend long periods of time outside his house. One day, he got home, and saw a men in his bed. Enraged, he decided to kill him. But when he went to see who it was he found out it was his dad that her wife has taken in shelter. In pain, the man became a eremit and lived in a cave in the mountain dedicating his life to prayer.

The place offers great views over the mountains around and far away where you can see the wind turbines that give a different aspect to the landscape. The place has today to chappels. One on top and another slightly below where the cave used to be.

Not far away there are many typical villages covered in local stone.

Poço Azul: A beatiful place to chill out

Poço Azul is another of the small swimming pools set in the stones that exist throughout São Pedro do Sul area. The place is very well kept with tables for picnics, stones to stop and get some sun and crystal clear water. Sobrosa is between Santa Cruz da Trapa e Gralheira in a road to your right.

Andanças: Dance all you can imagine till you drop!

Every year not far from the town of São Pedro do Sul it is held Andanças festival. Andanças festival is dedicated to moving your body from typical traditional dances to the new dances. Set in a park in the middle of the mountains it is a nice place to learn different types of dances and know how people shake their bodies from portugal to all over the world. There are also musicians coming from all over the place. The lodging is normally done in tents. The festival usally takes 7 days and costs 95€ or 12€/day (with the space for the tent included). It normally happens every year in August close to Carvalhais village.

Address: Follow north after São pedro do Sul to Carvalhais.

Phone: +351 266 732 504

Website: http://www.pedexumbo.com

Hot Springs

São Pedro do Sul has the biggest thermal institutions in Portugal. Its origins dates back, at least, to roman times when some structures, that can still be seen in place were built. This was one of the first city councils in Portugal.

The first king of Portugal came here to treat his leg in the battle of Badajoz. So it was in this land that some of the most important documents of the young portuguese' nation were written.

Today 25.000 people visit this structure. The waters have medicinal properties to reumathics, breathing diseases and nervous problems. They are considered by some one of the best in Europe.

The river Vouga that crosses the village and the parks give to São pedro do sul an interesting look.

Address: Termas de São Pedro de Sul

Directions: Some kilometers before são pedro do sul. You can't miss it.

Phone: 232 720 152

Website: http://www.termas-spsul.com/