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Updated: 12/10/2026
Maravilhas Naturais e ParquesCentro

Serra do Açor e Mata da Margaraça

Paisagem protegida no centro de Portugal, com a antiga floresta da Mata da Margaraça e a aldeia xistosa do Piódão.

The Mata da Margaraça forest in the Serra do Açor

In the mountains of central Portugal, the Serra do Açor protects a landscape of schist villages, deep valleys and the Mata da Margaraça, one of the last relics of the ancient forests that once covered the region. It is a quiet, little-visited area of great natural value.

An ancient forest

The Mata da Margaraça is a protected forest of oaks, chestnuts and laurels, with mosses, ferns and a cool, humid atmosphere. Around it, the Serra do Açor rises above the valleys, and the schist villages — including Piódão — preserve the traditional architecture of the region.

O que ver e fazer

  • Walking trails through the Mata da Margaraça.
  • The schist village of Piódão, with its terraced houses.
  • Viewpoints over the Serra do Açor and its valleys.
  • The rivers and waterfalls of the surrounding mountains.

Visiting the area

The Serra do Açor lies in the municipality of Arganil, in central Portugal. Access is free; because the forest is a protected reserve, stay on the trails and check local conditions before your visit.

Informações para visitantes: icnf.pt.

Image credit: Serra do Açor, Mata da Margaraça, by RuiCiencia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.