PR5 - Rota dos Frades - Starting from the center of Serra de Santo António

This track passes through a distinctive landscape where there was once a parochial community. You will have a chance to experience all the geological, cultural and landscape resources in this area. The name of this track has to do with the "School of Friars", which once existed in the Serra de Santo António.
The trail begins in the center of the small town Serra de Santo António. Closeby there is a Pastelaria where you can have an excellent morning coffee before starting out. There is good parking place. I preferred to start here because I did not want to park my foreign car in the middle of nowhere.
The hike follows a trail full of loose stone walls, marouços, olive groves and pastoral zones.
We walk through a typical mountain vegetation. Along the way we spotted a great variety of orchids here as well as narcis, gladiolus, lavender............
At the highest point of the mountain, we can see the Planalto de Santo António, the polje of Mira / Minde, the Planalto de São Mamede and the Serra de Aire. After this incursion along the north slope of the mountain, we return to the south, where we walk back to the place of departure, descending one of the tracks that allows us to have a greater contact with the extensive work that man has left in this mountain range. Between the walls, we can see casinas, marouços and small shelters, built at the expense of the force of the armor, the tailor and the pickaxe.
Just before returning to Serra de Santo António we will see the Bajouco (natural depression in the rock, where the rainwater accumulates) where we can find a picnic table.

There are no drinking water points along the track.
We can find a picnic place after about 9 km (clockwise) and after 11 km (at the Bajouco).
The track does not present particular difficulties, as long as you wear good trekking shoes. There is only asphalt in Serra de Santo António, all the rest is dirt roads or narrow paths in the countryside.
There is one relative steep descent just before arriving at the picnic place (8.5 km).

I have based my track on a free interpretation of a trail published by AntMadeira. Asource of the information was http://cm-alcanena.pt (see in more info)