The Roda Pé Walks have been taking place since 2001 and consist of activities focused on the (re)discovery and appreciation of natural and cultural heritage. They are designed for people of all ages who enjoy contact with nature and the rural world. These are guided walks organized by ADC Moura, led by expert guides on the chosen topics, and take place in various locations across the municipality of Moura, making the most of its heritage, landscapes, and well-preserved biotopes.
Walks (choose when booking)
1. D. BEATRIZ: A KEY FIGURE IN THE POLITICAL CHESSBOARD OF THE 15TH CENTURY – THE TREATY OF THE TERÇARIAS OF MOURA
Who was Infanta D. Beatriz, Duchess of Viseu-Beja? How did she assert her protagonism and influence in the Portuguese political scene of the 15th century? And in shaping a “new world order,” where Portugal and Castile emerged as dominant powers? What connects her to Moura and the Treaty of the Terçarias? What is the link between this treaty and Coroada, a former parish of Moura? In this walk, we celebrate the life and legacy of D. Beatriz, Duchess of Viseu and Beja and Lady of Moura — one of the most powerful yet lesser-known women of 15th-century Portugal. Under the theme of the Treaty of the Terçarias of Moura, we visit the Casa das Terçarias and the area of Coroada, near Safara.
Highlights:Walk through the historic centre of Moura. Visit to Casa das Terçarias (exterior) Visit to the former parish of Coroada, including the chapel of Nossa Senhora das Neves and the confluence of the S. Pedro and Toutalga streams, where the embassies of Portugal and Castile met in January 1481
Details:
Start/End: Moura
Duration: 5h
Distance: 1 km on foot + 20 km by car
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Linear
Guide: Filipe Sousa
2. CROSSING THE BORDER ON SMUGGLERS’ TRAILS (In the footsteps of Miguel Hernández)
This walk follows the old smuggling routes from Rosal de la Frontera to Sobral da Adiça, evoking the life and work of Spanish poet and playwright Miguel Hernández (1910–1942). He is tragically linked to Moura and died in a Francoist prison during the Spanish Civil War.Highlights:Visit to Casa de Cultura Miguel Hernández in Rosal de la Frontera, including the cell where he was detained in May 1939. Border crossing on foot. Arrival in Sobral da Adiça, where he was interrogated after arrest in Moura. Visit to the old railway station of Moura and Jardim Miguel Hernández
Details:Start: Rosal de la Frontera – End: Sobral da Adiça
Duration: 4h
Distance: 9 km
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Linear
Guide: Filipe Sousa
3. FAR FROM THE WORLD: ALONG THE MEANDERS OF THE RIVER ARDILA – RIVER MUSEUM – SUBMERSION WATERMILL – ROCHA FRIA – BIODIVERSITY
This walk explores the biodiversity and milling activities associated with the River Ardila, starting from Santo Amador, after visiting the River Museum in collaboration with ADASA. The Ardila River, which flows into the Guadiana near Moura, forms part of the Portugal–Spain border and crosses one of the best-preserved natural areas of the Iberian Peninsula.
Highlights: Visit to the River Museum of Santo AmadorLandscape of montado and Mediterranean scrub Walk along footpaths and rocky outcrops by the Ardila. Visit to Moinho da Figueira (submersion mill) and explanation of its mechanics. Observation of emblematic flora and fauna, some endangered
Details:Start/End: Santo Amador (by the church square)
Duration: 3h
Distance: 7 km
Difficulty: EasyType: Circular
Guide: Filipe Sousa
4. TO THE CASTRO DOS RATINHOS AND SAILING AMONG ISLANDS ON THE ALQUEVA
This walk includes a climb to the Castro dos Ratinhos, a Late Bronze Age site offering a stunning view over Europe’s largest artificial lake, followed by a boat tour on the Alqueva reservoir, filled with stories about the dam, local nature, and culture.
Highlights:Visit to the Moura-Alqueva Nautical CentreVisit to Castro dos Ratinhos (1200 BCE) Panoramic views over the Alqueva. Boat ride through the Alqueva with stories of the Great Lake lands. Picnic on board
Details:Start/End: Moura-Alqueva Nautical Station (EN 255)
Duration: 5hDistance: 2 km walking + 4 km by boat
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Circular
Guides: Pedro Sousa, Filipe Sousa, Humberto Nixon
5. BEYOND MOURA: THE PARADISE ROUTE (A literary walk through the childhood and youth of Urbano Tavares Rodrigues)Part of the LiterÁREA – Alentejo and Ribatejo Literary Tourism Festival
This literary walk explores the life and work of Urbano Tavares Rodrigues, portuguese writer (1923–2013), focusing on his connection to Moura, where he lived during his childhood and part of his adolescence.
Highlights:Literary route through locations tied to Urbano’s life and writing: Church of S. João Baptista, Bica do Moscão, Brenhas Stream Bridge, Monte da Esperança, water mine, threshing floor, Porto Mourão lookout, and the Ardila RiverReadings of excerpts from his work. Centuries-old olive groves and visit to the Lagar de Varas do Fojo, the oldest olive oil press of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula. Walk through the historical centre of Moura
Details:Start/End: Moura (Pç. Sacadura Cabral)
Duration: 3h
Distance: 7 km
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Circular
Guide: Filipe Sousa
6. I CLIMBED THE SERRA DA ADIÇA AND ONLY STOPPED AT THE TALEFE
This walk along the border ridge of Serra de Ficalho, the highest peak in the Adiça range, recalls smuggling memories and the story of Lieutenant Augusto Seixas, the “Schindler of the Border.” The route also includes encounters with rare karstic flora.Highlights:Stories of smuggling and Seixas’s role in helping Spanish refugees at the start of the Civil War (1936). Walk along the border between markers 1034–1044. Visit to the deactivated Carabineros and Guarda Fiscal posts. Climb to the Ficalho Talefe (523 m) for panoramic views. Observation of local karstic flora and walk through traditional olive groves
Details:Start/End: Sobral da Adiça (Forças Armadas Square)
Duration: 6h
Distance: 20 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Circular
Guide: Filipe Sousa
7. FROM MONTE DOS 25 TO FERRENHA, IN THE NORTH CONTENDAI
n the northern area of the Herdade da Contenda, a borderland rich in montado forest, participants may observe emblematic fauna such as deer and black vultures. This remote area holds stories of smuggling and refuge and is home to Portugal’s largest open-range deer population.
Highlights:Herdade da Contenda: 800 years of history, 21 km of border, 2020 National Landscape Award. Rich montado landscape and rare flora and fauna. Remnants and stories of smuggling. Visit to the Convento da Tomina and the ContendaNatur interpretation centre
Details:Start/End: Monte dos 25 / North Contenda (Santo Aleixo da Restauração)
Duration: 5h
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Circular
Guides: Pedro Sousa, Filipe Sousa