Top 10 Most Beautiful MTB Trails around Santa Catarina da Serra e Chainça

After the revolution of 1383, Portugal found itself in a difficult conflict with the neighboring Kingdom of Castile. The battle was decided in 1385 when the Castilian and Portuguese armies clashed at the Battle of Aljubarrota. The Castilians outnumbered and were better armed. As a military leader, Nuno Álvares Pereira loyally stood by his patron, John of Avis. The Portuguese achieved a resounding victory, which is attributed in particular to the strategic genius of Nuno Álvares Pereira. With this victory, the Castilian claims to Portugal were permanently repelled. John of Avis was proclaimed king by the Cortes, as John I of Portugal, thus establishing the second Portuguese dynasty, the House of Avis. Nuno Álvares Pereira became a national hero, and the grateful king showered him with honors and material possessions.

The Lis River, whose source is in the town of Fontes, Cortes, is one of the few rivers in the country whose current flows from south to north and, in the final kilometres, from east to west. In winter and early spring, it is possible to see water emerging from the ground in surprising quantities. In the summer months, the source is usually dry.

The Sheep's Sink is an imposing natural cavity, named after the sink carved under a stalactite that, in the rainy months, pours out abundant water. In the past, this natural refuge served as a drinking trough for cattle.

Legend has it that the bears that once inhabited the Iberian Peninsula would drink water from the sinks that were naturally formed from the rock, which are still visible today. Today, the village of Pia do Urso, in the municipality of Batalha, is a popular spot for nature lovers and outdoor hikers. In this Sensory Ecopark, which is adapted for the visually impaired, you can have picnics, hike and discover some of the region's stories.

Porto de Mós Castle is very original, thanks to its large green and pointed turrets, you can see it from afar! It is an architectural work with unique characteristics which stands on a small hill. Conquered from the Moors in 1148 by the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, the castle of Porto de Mós had an important role in the Christian reconquest and a few years later (1385) in the battle of Aljubarrota, a battle which gave definitive independence in Portugal. In the 15th century, the castle was transformed into a residential palace by D. Afonso. After his death in 1459, the palace was abandoned and partially destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755. From 1936 until 1999, the castle underwent several restorations, which allowed it to regain its former glory. It has been classified as a National Monument since 1910.

The angel of Fatima invites us to associate ourselves with this paschal mystery, following in the footsteps of our Redeemer, to be authentic disciples of Jesus. Offering sacrifices and making reparation for offenses is part of this path of love and conversion.

The monument was created in 1966-1968 by the artist Leopoldo de Almeida. Nuno Alves Pereira was a soldier and strategist in the Middle Ages. He practiced as a simple brother in the Carmelite community at the Carmo Monastery in Lisbon. He was canonized by Pope Benedict 16 in April 2009

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