A mere hour’s drive and we can find ourselves from our corners in the Serra, and in the historic city life of Coimbra. If one is looking for all-inclusive shopping done, whether fashion, home and groceries, than the Forum is the place you’ll find it. With it being such a quick easy drive, it’s a city I’m almost always make a day trip out of — and yet am not the most familiar with its surrounding areas. A fellow travel loving cousin, who really should be THE tour guide for hidden gems in Portugal, told me about these windmills with gorgeous mountain and forest views of the Serra da Atalhada in the Penacova area. In fact there are two sets of windmill rows in this area, the others are known as the Moinhos de Gavinhos.
With it being so close to the area we’d be doing some quick shopping and walking around, I thought why not take a scenic detour and drive along the mountain to see these windmills in the morning autumn glow. I thought let’s take advantage of the later store opening time, and have ourselves an short adventure first. What we didn’t expect, and my aunt and mother should have probably known, was that we’d be met with scenic views of…..dense fog. This trip was taken on a mid-October day, and it was the epitome of Autumn. An eeriness circled the immense quiet that filled the air, an enchantment.
The fog rolled in and embraced us as we carefully walked about the ground that was moist and thick with morning dew. Examining the stone windmills, once used along with the power of nature and wind; made cereal from the flours and grains. With most traditional crafts, especially ones like these that require great labor for something so essentially integral to our everyday and diet — time has made them symbols of another time, abandoned. Most of the 23 mills are very much intact, while the others, remnants of stones that were once bricks carefully and firmly encircling one another.
We unfortunately decided to visit during the wrong time of the day. But my cousin, and everyone else who manages to see its clear sights, say its panaromic views are a beauty. If in the area of Serra da Atalhada in Penacova, or within a drive from Coimbra ….. I say take a lovely drive through the forest and up the mountain to enjoy this gem. And to simply take in the beautiful serenity of Mother Nature…..
Also love books and want something fun to do during the summer in Coimbra? Check out their Feira do Livro {Book Fair}!! Huts line up the plaza square, surrounded by cafes and al fresco dining, calm music and live readings. These are a few photos from our trip there this year …
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