PR1 SMP Trilho da Terra e do Céu

The circular trail of Earth and Heaven, with about 7.2 km in length, starts at the Church of the village of Cumieira, passing by Veiga, Bertelo and the Miradouro (viewpoint) de Santa Bárbara. The trail’s name comes from the heights to which we climb and the depths to which we descend. But it is worth the effort. It pays off like a spring of fresh water when the desert tires and the thirst burns. The vineyards and olive groves draw the cracks of the effort in the schist, fertile and rugged ground. Going down the steep slopes we can see a cluster of bright houses surrounded by green, with a cheerful smile at the bottom of the valley, of friendly and sociable people. In the Veiga valley, looking at the slopes that seem to touch the clouds, the view is overwhelming and it even moves by the telluric and human dimension that it displays.

From the top of the Chapel of Santa Bárbara the gaze flies to the far reaches of the ridges, which become lost in gradations of greys and blues. With it goes the imagination and the dream that feed the fantasy of going on an adventure. Vila Real is seen in a kind of bird's eye view. The villages look like flocks of houses grazing the green landscape and give them a laughing joy. Between the vines that cling in rows and lines, we find the community of Veiga, a cluster of light houses surrounded by green. It is a fertile green, festive in the abundance of vegetable gardens, flowers, vines, grape varieties for the production of wine and for the table. The vineyards that give grapes for the generous (Port) wine perch on the terraces. People have a spontaneous and sociable affection as only a community that has become accustomed to treating mother earth as one of their one can accomplish. They love the place where they live and are grateful for their fertility.