Olive groves and green fields

This leg crosses the municipalities of Ferreira do Zêzere and Ourém through olive groves and green fields irrigated by small streams that feed the River Nabão. In Areias, the church is a Marian temple dedicated to Our Lady of Grace, built in the 16th century by the royal architects João de Castilho and Miguel de Arruda. The bell tower is incorporated into the façade, where a portico opens with three classical arches resting on columns with Ionic capitals. The interior consists of three naves covered by a wooden ceiling and wall panelling in patterned blue and yellow tiles from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The ancestrality of these lands is clearly evident in the Avecasta cave, an archaeological site that bears witness to the presence of human life since the Palaeolithic period. In the villages of Formigais and Soalheira, the River Nabão and its tributaries irrigate the fields. Biodiversity and ecological balance characterise this area, which is part of the Natura 2000 network. The route continues alongside the watercourses. In the parish of Seiça in the municipality of Ourém, visitors find the Ribeira do Olival and the Ribeira de Seiça streams. The riverside area is pleasant and rich in biodiversity. The stillness of the water is punctuated by the harmonious sound of birds taking shelter in the cooler areas. In the village, the main Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Purification.