Aldeia Nova: Termas do Pisão, Heritage and GR22

Aldeia Nova is a rural settlement in a deep valley. There are several points of interest to help plan your trip: the springs of the Termas do Pisão, local heritage and the GR22. The route reaches Aldeia Nova and continues from there towards Muxagata. If you are looking for a hotel in Aldeia Nova, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip—landscape, history or a section of the route. The village is accessible via the E.M.586.

The Valley and the Termas do Pisão

In the Termas do Pisão area, several springs lie in a valley between two rocky hills. The springs are among the sulphur springs in the municipality of Trancoso that were once used for therapeutic purposes by the local population. There is also a historical account of the water’s temperature: in 1758, it was said to be warm at any time of year. The valley’s specific location and the springs’ history of use thus offer two different perspectives on the Termas. Visitors interested in the area can consider both its landscape and how it was used in the past.

Heritage and Local Tradition

Aldeia Nova’s heritage sites include the Capela de Santa Bárbara; stone crosses are also among the village’s heritage features. Work at the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição uncovered a large 16th-century fresco covering the wall of the apse. Aldeia Nova therefore brings together different kinds of evidence: a chapel, stone crosses and a fresco in the parish church. The tradition associated with the community also recounts that Gonçalo Anes Bandarra sought refuge in Nogueirão, on the Serabigo River near Aldeia Velha. This story adds a local historical tradition to the architectural and artistic heritage.

The GR22: Arrival and the Route Ahead

Before Aldeia Nova, the GR22 crosses a river, follows an unpaved track, crosses the river again later and then leads into Aldeia Nova. From there, the route continues to Muxagata and follows the Muxagata stream south to its mouth at the Mondego. For planning purposes, you can distinguish between two sections: the approach to Aldeia Nova, with its river crossings and unpaved track, and the continuation from there towards Muxagata along the stream. Check trail conditions and signage before setting out; both can change.

Festivals and Dates

A municipal planning document from November 2020 listed Corpus Christi as a celebration in Aldeia Nova and gave June as the month when it takes place. It associated the Festa em Honra de Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos with the Monday after Easter. For the Festa do Emigrante, it listed the 10th and 11th as the event dates. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these celebrations, check that year’s programme before setting your dates.

Discover more destinations: Trancoso, Terrenho, Freches.

Go to the main travel overview: Trancoso.