São João da Madeira → Grijó

A moderate stage descending through the southern outskirts of the Porto metropolitan area. The route passes through Santiago de Riba-Ul and Cucujaes, where the Monastery of Sao Martinho de Cucujaes is worth a brief detour. The path mixes suburban walking with forest sections through towns absorbed into the greater Porto urban sprawl.

The walking is not particularly scenic through this peri-urban landscape, but the stage is physically manageable and serves as a practical stepping stone towards Porto. Granite churches and manor houses appear more frequently, signalling the distinctive architecture of the north.

Grijo is a small town with the notable Mosteiro de Grijo (Grijo Monastery), a 12th-century Augustinian foundation worth visiting. Note that accommodation in Grijo itself is very limited; many pilgrims continue to Vila Nova de Gaia for more options.