Sousel - Fronteira

We take again the Path to Fronteira, going down Rua Fonte do Rodrigo and then turning left to the Galvão neighborhood. The land is reddish, and in the landscape, unsurprisingly, large extensions of cork and holm oak forest, olive groves and cereal fields persist.

We follow the green plains for 7 km and, when we reach the road to Santo Amaro, we find the village of Fronteira on our left. The railway line keeps on accompanying us and, in this stage, we reward it by following over it on the long 4.5 km straight line that precedes the arrival at Fronteira, through the field where the Batalha dos Atoleiros battle took place, in 1384, held in defense of the national territory against the Castilians. It is also said that the Castilian cavalry suffered high losses, contrary to the Portuguese forces, among which not a single death has occurred, even during the hand-to-hand combat! This legend was very important due to the great weight of religion in the Middle Ages, and means a proof of God's support. Already off the train line, we cross the N243 road, continuing along the side road until we find the N245, which leads to Rua de São João.

Then, on Rua da Lagoa, we head for the church of Nossa Senhora da Atalaia, famous for its altars decorated with wooden images representing Our Lady of Atalaia, St Anne, St Michael and St Anthony. We also witness the local richness, through the dawn-pink and black marble, present in the main altarpiece, a valuable Portuguese roch, still extracted today in the quarries of the Estremoz region. Straight ahead we climb Rua de Santa Maria to the City Council of Fronteira, where we’ll find the necessary information to plan our stay. Not to be missed, close by, is the river beach of Ribeira Grande and its ecotourism centre and, on the way, the church of Senhora da Vila Velha, on a hill that is believed to be the birthplace of the village.