Matas da Agualva - Terceira PRC14TER

This short circular route begins and ends at the mill on Rua do Saco and offers the visitor a unique insight into two of the most striking elements in the history of the parish of Agualva: the water from its streams — once the driving force behind almost fifty watermills and currently the source of supply for 6 of the 11 parishes in the municipality of Praia da Vitória — and the wood from its forests, which today is a fundamental raw material for local sawmills and carpentry workshops, as it was in the past.

In the first phase, the route runs along the riverbank, where you can see terraces with traditional orchards and several remains of old milling structures, such as mills, waterwheels and irrigation channels, which testify to the historical importance of water as an agricultural and energy resource. The natural waterfalls along the route, as well as the leisure area of Parque das Frechas, with its park of endemic species, are sites of great scenic and environmental interest.

In the second phase, further upstream, the route crosses several watercourses and follows forest paths flanked by diversified vegetation, predominantly consisting of exotic species such as Australian cheesewood (Pittosporum undulatum), large Eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus globulus), Pine trees (Pinus pinaster) and beautiful specimens of Tree ferns (Cyathea cooperi). In this section, the Varanda Sobre a Agualva viewpoint stands out, offering a wide panoramic view over the parish and the Ramo Grande area.

The final stage of the trail takes you down the Atalho Alto path, which follows an old forest track once used by loggers, set in a landscape of dense trees and thick forest cover. Along this section, you can also see old shelters for goats and several drainage channels linked to the springs of Ribeira da Silveira, as well as traces of the old water supply system that carried water from Fonte da Silveira to Air Base No. 4 (BA4), still visible at several points along the trail.

As this walking trail mainly follows forest paths and crosses several watercourses, it is advisable to check the weather conditions in advance and wear suitable clothing and footwear, bearing in mind that the ground may be slippery.