A 15.4-kilometre circular walking trail, panoramic views across the Riba de Ave area and the history of Oliveira Santa Maria Monastery give your stay some concrete themes. The trail offers a longer outdoor activity alongside sacred sites and the traditional Procissão do Senhor dos Santos Passos. This lets you focus on different aspects of your visit, from the landscape and monastery history to an event date.
Walking with views and a variety of points of interest
The circular walking trail is 15.4 kilometres long and open to the general public. Mosteiro de Oliveira de Santa Maria is one of three possible starting points; the trail also leads to Mosteiro de Oliveira Santa Maria. It offers excellent panoramic views across the Riba de Ave area. The trail also begins the ascent towards Capela de Santa Tecla and Monte de Santa Tecla. This brings together a possible starting point at the monastery, another monastery stop, sweeping views and the beginning of an ascent on one walk. If you are considering both the landscape and sacred buildings as reasons to visit, these waypoints offer different points of interest along your walk.
The route length helps you plan the walk as a distinct part of your itinerary. In heavy rain and when water levels are high, the section by Açude e Azenha may become inaccessible. If you plan to walk on a particular day, check before setting out whether these conditions apply.
Monastery history on the Ave
The history of Oliveira Santa Maria Monastery offers a distinct perspective on the sacred sites. Oliveira Santa Maria was home to a monastery of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, built on the River Ave. In 1599, the monastery was united with Santa Cruz Monastery in Coimbra. The order identifies the monastery’s religious affiliation, its location on the Ave anchors it to the area, and the union establishes a connection with Coimbra. The historical story thus extends from its riverside location to a specific link with another monastery.
Sacred sites and procession
In Oliveira Santa Maria, Igreja de Santa Maria de Oliveira, the parish church, and Capela de Santa Tecla, the chapel, are among the sacred sites. The chapel connects two distinct perspectives for visitors: the walking trail begins the ascent in its direction, and the chapel is a point of reference in the procession programme. You will therefore encounter the name Santa Tecla both in connection with the walk and as part of the religious celebration.
The traditional Procissão do Senhor dos Santos Passos in Santa Maria de Oliveira was scheduled for 7 and 8 March in its 2026 edition. The programme indicated that the procession would begin next to Capela de Santa Tecla and end with the Sermão do Calvário on Monte de Santa Tecla. The celebration thus has a named starting point by the chapel and an ending on the Monte. If you would like to plan a trip around an event date, check the dates for the year you intend to travel.
Discover more destinations: Portela, Arnoso (Santa Maria), Travassos, Oliveira Santa Maria, Pousada De Saramagos, Negreiros, Bairro, Cunha.
For the main travel overview: Vila Nova De Famalicão.
