Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede

Along Portugal’s eastern frontier with Spain, a low mountain range rises out of the Alentejo plain, catching rain, snow on rare winter days, and a natural wealth that belongs more to the north of the country than to the south. The Serra de São Mamede Natural Park is a green surprise at the gates of Portalegre — granite and quartzite hills, chestnut woods, cork oaks, cliff-nesting birds and castles on every ridge.

The highest ground south of the Tagus

The range’s highest point, at 1,025 metres, is the tallest summit in mainland Portugal south of the Tagus. Geologically it is the western end of the Montes de Toledo, with a climate between Atlantic and Mediterranean that lets holm oaks, chestnuts and olive groves share the slopes. The park holds one of Europe’s largest bat colonies and a startling biodiversity: eagles, boar, deer and a rich flora, sheltered in areas that have been protected since 1989.

What to see

• The Pico de São Mamede and the Alto da Serra viewpoints
• Castelo de Vide, Marvão and Portalegre, the park’s old towns
• The Roman city of Ammaia, near Marvão
• Waterfalls such as the Cascata de São Julião
• Cork and chestnut woods along the walking trails

Practical information

The park spans the municipalities of Portalegre, Marvão, Castelo de Vide and Arronches, all reached from the A23 motorway. The old towns make good bases, and marked trails range from short walks to full-day routes. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; summer afternoons can be brutally hot.

Image credit: Serra de São Mamede by Vitor Oliveira — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.