From Ribeira da Sertã to the River Zêzere

On this leg, the route passes through the municipalities of Sertã and Ferreira do Zêzere, former lands of the Order of Malta. It’s a pleasant area, bathed by the River Zêzere and its tributaries, including the Ribeira da Sertã, which runs through the lower part of the town. Next to the Old Bridge, between green banks, a contemporary work of art is integrated into the riverside landscape. After leaving, visitors pass through hills, valleys, and old villages. In Nesperal, the main church has a simple façade and a gilded interior. In Paparia, the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope, inspired by 18th-century pilgrimage churches, has a baroque façade and a polygonal floor plan.

In Cernache do Bonjardim, we find the main Church of São Sebastião, with its imposing façade and exquisite interior lined with figurative tile panels. Close by is the the seat of the Royal College of Overseas Missions, a monumental building built in the 18th century which today welcomes pilgrims. The memory of St Nuno de Santa Maria, who was born here in 1360 and was a Constable of the Kingdom, is very much alive in various parts of the town. The great experience of this leg ends with the crossing of the River Zêzere at Vale Serrão and the arrival at Dornes, a unique setting where the river widens and the water shapes the landscape.