Approved Path - Camping and Mountaineering Federation of Portugal
Extreme heat in summer is recommended
Walking Path
The Cabeço da Cruz Route goes round the village of Mação and is the privileged route to get to know the county seat and the bucolic surrounding landscape.
Making the Largo dos Bombeiros Voluntários its starting and ending point, the recommended direction is east, towards Avenida Dr. Vicente Mendes Mirrado, and from there to Vale Perto.
After passing Rua das Fábricas, the route continues towards Bairro André Loja.
From here begins a gentle climb that culminates at the top of Cabeço da Cruz, the highest point (400m), where the walker can enjoy a beautiful view over the village of Mação.
Continuing the route, it descends towards São Miguel. After passing the EN244, we enter the agricultural fields of Rouquinha and Vale da Gueifoa. In this area, we can see the Grouping of Schools Verde Horizonte and the Covered Municipal Pools.
A new climb starts on the old Ventosa way and the trail continues on the southwest side of the village towards Bairro de Santo António, where we descend to Ponte d'el Rei - Ponte Romana de Mação. It is the lowest point with 238 meters. The trail enters again the village of Mação, passing by the Municipal Garden, Elvino Pereira Auditorium and São Sebastião Chapel. After another return to the agricultural areas south of Mação, the trail makes its final turn until the designated Calvary, where we can appreciate the Archaeological Park, the Discovery Municipal Pools and, at the top of the staircase, the Calvary Chapel.
Arriving at the final stage, we can also visit the Museum of Prehistoric and Sacred Art in the Tagus Valley, which is close by. Being a circular route, it ends exactly where it started: the Fireman's Square.