Vales: Serra de Santa Comba and the Santa Comba tradition

Vales brings together the forested Serra de Santa Comba and the tradition surrounding Santa Comba dos Vales. The Miradouro da Serra de Santa Comba is a specific landmark in this landscape; the Serra reaches an elevation of 1,041 metres. The legend and the annual Romaria de Santa Comba also give the place a distinct cultural connection.

Serra de Santa Comba: elevation, forest and views

The Serra is characterised by dense forests of pine, oak, cork oak and holm oak. Its elevation of 1,041 metres provides a precise geographical reference, while the tree species mentioned give a concrete sense of the forest landscape. The Miradouro da Serra de Santa Comba is listed among Valpaços’s cultural and heritage sites. This brings landscape and cultural heritage together at a named viewpoint, appealing to two different interests.

At the viewpoint in the Freguesia of Vales, it is possible to take off heading west. This connection to an activity adds another perspective on the area alongside the views and the forested Serra. Travellers whose plans focus on nature and landscape will find concrete points of reference for planning in the mountain range, its vegetation and the viewpoint.

The legend and the date of the Romaria

Vales is regarded as the setting of the legend of Santa Comba dos Vales. The Romaria de Santa Comba, held every year on 8 August, is also linked to this legend. The setting of the legend, the religious tradition and the recurring date together form a clear cultural connection.

The date is particularly useful for planning your trip if the pilgrimage is the reason for your stay: it takes place every year on 8 August. The legend gives the Romaria its cultural significance, while the date provides a fixed entry on the calendar. This makes it possible to distinguish the tradition from the timing without separating them.

Chapels and historical place names

An 18th-century parish report describes the chapels of Santa Comba and São Leonardo on the Serra as being right next to each other. Historically, the Chapel of Santa Comba was assigned to the parish of São Nicolau dos Vales. The parish church historically bore the name “Igreja de São Nicolao nos Valles de Santa Comba”.

Another historical place reference leads to the Chapel of Santo Amaro: it was located in Zebras, in the parish of São Nicolau dos Vales. Taken together, these details offer different ways to explore local history: the relative locations of two chapels, their association with the parish and a recorded church name. The historic chapel in Zebras adds another named place to these connections.

Cultural heritage and regional connections

In 2014, the complex of archaeological sites of the Serra de Santa Comba (Serra de Passos), which included Vales, was entered into a classification procedure. The complex is still listed in the municipal cultural heritage annex of 2025. This procedural history is a distinct aspect of cultural heritage and should be distinguished from the historical details about the chapels and church.

Vales is part of Valpaços’s almond-growing area. The municipality of Valpaços also contains a particularly important almond-growing area. As another regional connection, Valpaços is part of one of the three wine-growing sub-regions of the “Trás-os-Montes” DOP. The almond-growing area places Vales in an agricultural context, while the DOP designation describes Valpaços’s wine-growing region.

Plan your stay around your interests

If you’re looking for a hotel in Vales, you can choose what brings you there by considering these different highlights: the forested Serra and its viewpoint, the Romaria held every year on 8 August, or the historical connections to the chapels and church. The pilgrimage offers a recurring date, while the landscape and local history provide other ways to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Zebras, São João Da Corveira, Murça, Peso Da Régua, Ribeira De Pena, Alijó, Mondim De Basto, Mesão Frio.

For the main travel overview: Vila Real.