We already knew that the Parque das Serras do Porto hid gold mines dug during Roman times. What you might not have known is that there’s a trail that winds through those very mining ruins—and that it ends with a reward: a 360° viewpoint overlooking the valley, with the Douro River in the distance.
A trail with four mines along the way
It’s called the Antimónio and Gold Mines Trail (PR4-GDM); it’s a circular route about 9 km long that takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete, with a difficulty level ranging from moderate to difficult. The trail circles the Serra das Flores mountain range, in the municipality of Gondomar, and passes successively by four decommissioned mines: the Tapada Mine, the Ribeiro da Serra and Fontinha Mine, the Alto de Sobrido Mine, and the Corgo Mine.
Gold since Roman times, antimony until the 20th century
Mining in this area, now known as the Baixo-Douro Mining District, began in earnest as early as Roman times, in search of gold. Centuries later, between 1880 and 1890, it experienced its golden age—this time for antimony mining—transforming the municipality of Gondomar into a national landmark and the region into one of Europe’s leading centers for antimony production.
The Tapada Mine, one of the trail’s stops, once had underground workings spread across 14 levels, reaching a depth of 270 meters—the greatest depth reached among all the antimony mines in the area. In 1886, its peak production year, more than 1,500 metric tons of antimony were extracted from this mine alone.
The reward: a 360° viewpoint
After visiting the mining ruins—arches, chimneys, and tunnels that still stand amid the vegetation—the trail climbs to Alto de Santa Bárbara, named after the patron saint of miners, where an unfinished chapel, now in ruins, stands. It is also the highest point of the route, offering a 360° panoramic view: to the east and west, and to the south, the Douro River, which can be seen peeking through the vegetation. Along the way, the trail also passes by the Medas triangulation point.
It’s a good idea to check the trail’s current condition before setting out. Regardless, the park’s signage also recommends that hikers stay on the marked trails at all times, due to the presence of old mine shafts—wells and ventilation shafts—which are sometimes hidden by vegetation.
Don’t miss out! Follow us onFacebook,Instagram, and now onWhatsApp too!
