The best traffic-free bike rides in the Serra da Estrela Mountains

Ansião is a Portuguese municipality of about 13,000 inhabitants located in the district of Leiria, in the historical region of Centro. This charming village is renowned for its strategic location along the Portuguese Way of Santiago de Compostela and for being immersed in the natural landscape of the Sicó limestone massif.

The Ponte Real (or Ponte Velha) over the Ceira River is located in the village of Góis, being one of the historical ex-libris of the region. This medieval-style bridge, later reformed, is an important tourist attraction, crossing the Ceira River, a left-bank tributary of the Mondego River, which originates in the Serra do Açor. Location: Center of the village of Góis, facilitating pedestrian access. Characteristics: Imposing structure with stone arches, typical of crossing constructions from the monarchical period. Surroundings: The Ceira River, near this area, offers river beaches highly sought after during the summer, standing out for the quality of the water and tranquility. History: It is part of the built heritage from the Manueline/medieval period of the region.

Known as Serra da Portela or Serra do Anjo da Guarda, this is a natural viewpoint overlooking the Pousaflores Valley, where the landscape is filled with life and aromas. Wild orchids, rupicolous plants, "cucas" (a type of gourd), wormwood, and the fresh scent of thyme, which wafts away with every step, flourish among the limestone rocks. Here, atop Monte da Ovelha, human presence has left its mark: traditional windmills, a small chapel dedicated to the Guardian Angel, the Stations of the Cross for Good Friday, and initiatives celebrating bread and cornbread. It's also a place made for lingering: sitting at a table, lighting a grill, or simply gazing out.

The Santiago da Guarda Monumental Complex is an unmissable stop, where history unfolds in layers. Classified as a National Monument, it stands out for its Manueline elegance, its 14th-century manor tower, and the impressive Roman mosaics that reveal an ancient villa from the 4th and 5th centuries. The old road between Tomar and Coimbra passed through here, later used by pilgrims on their way to Santiago. Surrounded by the limestone landscape and oak groves of the Serra de Sicó, the place invites you to slow down and take a deep breath. Take the opportunity to chat with the hospitable people.

The windmills of Corujeiras are a valuable testament to the rural heritage of Sicó. Two types of windmills coexist here: the traditional rotating ones and those of North American influence, dating from the late 19th century, unique in Europe. It is said that an emigrant returning from the United States commissioned the construction of ten of these windmills, of which only five have withstood the test of time, preserving the memory of an ingenuity that crossed oceans.

Ansião is a Portuguese town in the Leiria District, in the former province of Beira Litoral and part of the Leiria Region in Central Portugal, with approximately 2,700 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Municipality of Ansião, which has an area of 176.09 km² and 11,632 inhabitants, subdivided into six parishes.

The effort is worth the view from this wonderful Mirador over the valley!

Santiago da Guarda offers an interesting monumental complex that includes a medieval tower from the 15th century (which has an older matrix); a late Roman villa (dating from the 4th-5th century), discovered in 2002, with a magnificent collection of Roman mosaics; and finally the Paço dos Vasconcelos, or Palace of the Counts of Castelo Melhor, a 16th-century stately home built around the tower.