Known as the “Portugal Nativity Scene”, Piódão was one of the seven winners of the 7 Wonders of Portugal Villages. Thus, the village won the Remote Villages award, a title won against Castro Laboreiro, who also has a post here.. Additionally, you can find out about the remaining nominees and winners at the event website.
The name “Portugal Nativity Scene” is due to the way the houses of Piódão are organized
Located in the district of Coimbra, I would venture to say that Piódão is one of the best known villages in Portugal. In addition to being one of the winners of the 7 Wonders of Portugal Villages, Piódão is one of the 12 Historic Villages of Portugal, as well as one of the Schist Villages of Portugal.
Surprisingly, these are just a few titles attributed to this village. Located in Açor Mountain, Piódão is a small village (almost) all in schist where the majority of the houses have doors and window frames painted in blue.
The car must be left at the entrance to the village and, consequently, the exploration is all on foot. We recommend you to,on warmer days, take water and a snack, since the village, being located on cliffs, ends up representing some physical effort.
We recommend exploring the village of piódão, almost labyrinthine, without any map or route defined
Our recommendation is that, without any map or idea, walk the paths of the village and discover the mysteries at every corner. From the Church, a small stream that follows the path and passages under houses, Piódão is a mystery that is worth seeking to know.
To better enjoy the village, we decided to take food and, with the surrounding mountains landscape, we enjoyed our lunch. Although there are specific picnic spots, the area was blocked due to construction work. However, there are places where you can sit, relax and enjoy the scenery.
In addition to the village, we also recommend visiting the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, which, when we visited it (summer 2020), was open to visitors. However, there is much more to do in the village of Piódão, with some suggestions presented below.
What to do?
Besides getting to know the village and to visit the Mother Church, you can also get to know the different craft shops, with very friendly residents who, without any problem and with extreme sympathy, tell several stories.
It is in one of these stores that, as it happened to us, there are sold several liqueurs, such as arbutus liqueur, peach liqueur and rose petal liqueur. Even for people like me who don't drink regularly, I recommend this experience.
Still in Piódão, there is the Piódão River Pool and Piódão Museum. If in doubt, you can always visit the Piódão Tourist Office. We still did (and loved) the trail Piódão - Chãs d’Égua - Foz d’Égua, which we recommend to anyone who wants to know the part more connected to the nature of this destination.
You can learn more about the trail here.. As the name of the trail indicates, it passes through two more villages, both belonging to the municipality of Piódão. Similarly, there is a River Beach in Foz d’Égua village, which can also be accessed by car, which is one of our recommendations.
Upon returning home, take the opportunity to admire the mountain landscape. If, like us, you catch the sunset on your return, you can be sure that it is a completely unforgettable image.
Where to eat?
Although we took food from home, since we still wanted to do the aforementioned trail, Piódão has some places to eat in the village itself.
The one we most hear about is undoubtedly the Solar dos Pachecos (more information here.). However, there are many other options.
In the same area it is possible to find the Casall de Piodam (website here.), for example. In a more hidden area, but easily found by the signs, you can find the restaurant O Fontinha (more information here.).
In addition to the restaurants, there is also the Café A Gruta (more information here.). It was in this cafe that we took the opportunity to rest after doing the trail.
In Piódão restaurants, and even in the café, it is possible to eat one of the typical dishes of the region, the Bucho.
How to arrive and park?
Although still located in the district of Coimbra, the truth is that the center of the district and Piódão are separated by almost 100km. There are not many roads to reach this village, and a large part of the path is made through the mountains in curves and curves.
Consequently, the best way to get there is by following the GPS. In our case, in contrast to previous experiences, GPS has shown the way without any problem.
Although the paths are always curved, the truth is that the roads are in very good condition, making the trip pleasant.
We recommend that those who visit Piódão do it early, since, in the village itself, there are only about 50 parking lots.
Piódão is, without a doubt, a mandatory destination for those who like the aura of the countryside villages: everything seems to be very homely and the people are extremely friendly. The landscapes are beautiful and the places are well maintained.
As mentioned, and since Piódão is a popular destination, we recommend that the visit starts early. That way, you can get to know the village more calmly. For those interested in these types of villages, Piódão is one of our main recommendations.
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