The Monte de S. Marcos is located in the parish of Santiago de Besteiros, in the municipality of Tondela.
We follow the signs on the EN 228 in Muna, which lead us up the winding slope along the paved road to the hill. That is where this route begins.
In the surrounding area, in addition to the Chapel of S. Marcos, there is a fitness trail, a sports park, and a picnic area—which will certainly be a particularly pleasant spot to rest at the end of the day.
The view over the Besteiros Valley is breathtaking and sets the mood for the hike.
The trail begins with a descent along the access road, and after walking about 500 meters, you turn left onto the forest path that descends gently to the bridge over the Ribeira da Misarela, already heralded by the sound of its waters swirling down the hillside. Immediately after comes the Ribeira do Carvalhal. The forest that has dominated the landscape up to this point allows us, along the Caminho do Fojo and here and there, to catch glimpses of farmland in the valley carved out by the Ribeira.
After a short stretch of secondary road, you’ll need to cross the EN 228 and enter the village of Muna, where, if you wish, after taking a short side road, you can visit the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Penha.
Resume the route by heading toward the Caminho do Chão das Vinhas which, as the name suggests, runs through a considerable stretch of vineyards and agricultural areas all the way to the paved road, which now runs over what was once one of the major routes that led pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.
Despite the ravages of time, the significance it once held remains associated with this parish to this day, giving it its name and its patron saint: Saint James. The façade of the Parish Church prominently displays the symbol of the Camino de Santiago: a scallop shell.
The walk continues along Rua da Escola to Portela, where we come across yet another remnant of the pilgrims’ passage from : the Portela Bridge, spanning the Ribeira de Água d’Alte, whose name derives from a small waterfall upstream.
From here, the route heads toward the center of the village. At this point, the Ways of Santiago continue along the slopes of the Serra do Caramulo, and the route branches off along the Bogalhal trail, running alongside a long stretch of irrigation channels toward the Bogalhal watermills—a name given to a line of three watermills now largely forgotten, but which still still leave a strong imprint on the landscape, reminding those who pass by of the bustle of agricultural work that must have existed here in another era.
Once this section is behind you, the trail once again enters the vast forested area surrounding Monte de S. Marcos. Along the paths of the Mata da Misericórdia, you can discover and quietly contemplate the diversity of species that make up the forest. It’s not much further to the end, where the shade of the cork oak trees awaits us and invites us to enjoy the magnificent landscape once again.