Alvaiázere → Rabaçal

Another demanding day through the limestone hills, crossing from Alvaiazere through Ansiao and a succession of small villages to Rabacal. The route passes through Laranjeiras, Venda do Negro, and Casal Soeiro before reaching Ansiao, the main midway service town with cafes, a pharmacy, and shops.

After Ansiao, the path crosses the Ponte da Cal bridge over the Nabao River, where a bathing tank with stone benches known as the 'holy baths' is associated with the legend that Queen Elizabeth of Portugal (D. Isabel de Aragao) bathed here during her pilgrimage. A route variant passes through Santiago da Guarda, where the parish church is dedicated to the Apostle Saint James and the fortified Palace of Vasconcelos, built on a Roman villa with mosaics, features a heraldic scallop shell inside. The path continues through eucalyptus forests and between stone walls to Alvorge and on to Rabacal.

Rabacal is a tiny village famous across Portugal for its artisanal goat and sheep cheese (Queijo de Rabacal), which has Protected Designation of Origin status. Accommodation options are very limited, so booking ahead is strongly recommended.