Ermelo

Stage of the celebrated S. Bentinho de Ermelo Pilgrimage and of the 13th century Cistercian Monastery, the village of Ermelo, nestled between the Soajo Mountain and the Lima River, is an image worthy of a postcard, with its narrow streets, medieval houses and Mother Nature lurking in every corner, especially in the orange groves. Truly precious, Ermelo’s famous oranges, with their thin peel, very few seeds and sweet flavour, are so sought out that the annual production of forty tons rarely makes it to the national fruit market circuit. In places like Vilarinho do Souto and Igreja, on the right margin of the Lima River, one can still enjoy the ecological trail for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles, as well as the riverside leisure area.