Easy hikes and walks around Escalhão

Hinojosa de Duero is a charming village in the El Abadengo region (Salamanca), located right on the border with Portugal and within the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, making it an ideal destination for rural tourism, nature and gastronomy.

What to see in Hinojosa de Duero Church of San Pedro 16th century, Gothic style with later renovations. Its Baroque altarpieces are particularly noteworthy. Hermitage of Christ of Mercy Located on San Pedro hill, with a 13th-century Romanesque carving and spectacular views. Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Erected during the Second Republic, in the upper part of the town, surrounded by crosses and a Calvary. El Corralito and Plaza de la Constitución Former town hall meeting place, now a local gathering spot. Ethnographic Museum Collections on traditional life and local culture. Natural viewpoints Peña La Vela, Mirador del Contrabando, Cachón del Camaces, and Cachón de la Diabla offer unique views of the Duero River and the Arribes del Duero Natural Park.

Hinojosa de Duero is a charming village in the El Abadengo region (Salamanca), located right on the border with Portugal and within the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, making it an ideal destination for rural tourism, nature, and gastronomy. [turismocas...ayleon.com], [pte.es]

What to see in Hinojosa de Duero Church of San Pedro 16th century, Gothic style with later renovations. Its Baroque altarpieces are particularly noteworthy. Hermitage of Christ of Mercy Located on San Pedro hill, with a 13th-century Romanesque carving and spectacular views. Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Erected during the Second Republic, in the upper part of the town, surrounded by crosses and a Calvary. El Corralito and Plaza de la Constitución Former town hall meeting place, now a local gathering spot. Ethnographic Museum Collections on traditional life and local culture. Natural viewpoints Peña La Vela, Mirador del Contrabando, Cachón del Camaces, and Cachón de la Diabla offer unique views of the Duero River and the Arribes del Duero Natural Park.

Hinojosa de Duero is a charming village in the El Abadengo region (Salamanca), located right on the border with Portugal and within the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, making it an ideal destination for rural tourism, nature, and gastronomy. [turismocas.

The Escadaria de Acesso ao Passeio Ribeirinho significantly shortens the walk for pedestrians between the path along the riverbank and the parking lot at the road bridge over the river. According to the Komoot map, you previously had to walk under the bridge to reach the top in a long loop. The stairs were rebuilt in March 2024 by the Município de Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo (the municipality), as the old structure was completely destroyed and abandoned. They consist of raised wooden structures resting directly on the ground. Barca d'Alva is a popular stop for Douro cruises, and these stairs facilitate the descent to the river quay and the walking path, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Douro, the bridge, and the surrounding gorges. They contribute to the revitalization of the place, which had lost importance since the closure of the railway line (the Linha do Douro) in 1988. Today, it is a highlight for nature lovers and photographers, especially at sunset.

The bridge was designed and built in 1955 by the renowned Portuguese engineer Edgar Cardoso. It is considered the first motorway bridge in the Portuguese section of the Douro River and is a concrete arch bridge with a length of approximately 300 meters. It is named after the Portuguese naval officer and colonial administrator Almirante Manuel Maria Sarmento Rodrigues, who served as governor of Guinea and Mozambique under the Salazar dictatorship and later became Minister of Colonies.

When it was closed in 1985, the region lost its direct connection; the bridge fell into disrepair for decades and was inaccessible for a long time. Only in recent years has the entire route been reopened to hikers and visitors as the "Camino de Hierro" (Iron Way). Crossing the bridge offers spectacular views of the Águeda Gorge and the terraced landscapes of olive, almond, and vineyards. Today, it is an industrial monument and also a tourist highlight in the Arribes del Duero Natural Park.