St. Benedict's Way

The Caminhos de São Bento da Porta Aberta is a pilgrimage route in the north of Portugal that unites tradition, spirituality and the discovery of the religious, natural and cultural heritage of Minho, culminating in the Sanctuary of São Bento de Porta Aberta, located in the Peneda Gerês National Park in the parish of Rio Caldo, in the municipality of Terras de Bouro.
St. Benedict, venerated since 1615 in São Bento da Porta Aberta, with festivities on March 21 - The Death of St. Benedict, on July 11 - St. Benedict, Father and Patron of Europe and from August 10 to 15 - The Great Pilgrimage of St. Benedict, is Portugal's second largest shrine and attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year.
From Esposende to the Sanctuary of São Bento da Porta Aberta, the network of São Bento da Porta Aberta paths, between main and secondary routes, crosses six municipalities in the Cávado region, covering a total of 120 km of signposted paths in Cávado, passing several Benedictine monasteries founded along the Cávado Valley between the 6th and 18th centuries.

With a view to enhancing, signposting and promoting the safety of pilgrims, the Cávado Intermunicipal Community, in partnership with the Cávado Municipalities and the Brotherhood of São Bento da Porta Aberta, is promoting the "Walk in Safety" project, in order to provide an excellent opportunity for pilgrims, hikers and nature lovers to explore one of the most beautiful areas in the country.
Its main route, which links Esposende to São Bento da Porta Aberta, covers approximately 70 km, crossing the municipalities of Esposende, Barcelos, Braga, Vila Verde, Amares and Terras de Bouro, and can be completed in 7 main stages:

Stage 1: Fão (Esposende) - Vila Cova (Barcelos)
Distance: 7.1 km

Stage 2: Vila Cova - Matriz Barcelos
Distance: 10.7 km

Stage 3: Matriz Barcelos - Padim da Graça (Braga)
Distance: 13.4 km

Stage 4: Padim da Graça - Adaúfe
Distance: Approximately 11 km

Point of Interest:

Chapel of St. Sebastian.
a) Benedictine Heritage
Tibães Monastery
b) Other Points of Religious and Cultural Interest
Chapel of St. Gonçalo
Senhor do Bom Sucesso Chapel
Chapel of St. Sebastian.

Stage 5: Adaúfe - Figueiredo
Distance: About 10 km
Points of interest:
b) Other Points of Religious and Cultural Interest
Navarre Mother Church
S. Sebastião Figueiredo Chapel.

Stage 6: Figueiredo - Abadia (Amares)
Distance: Approximately 11.4 km
Points of interest:
a) Benedictine Heritage
Monastery of Santo André de Adaúfe
b) Other Points of Religious and Cultural Interest
Our Lady of Fastio Chapel
Bouro de Santa Marta Church
Our Lady of the Abbey Shrine.

Stage 7: Abadia - Formigueiro - Sanctuary of São Bento da Porta Aberta (Terras de Bouro)
Distance: About 6.6 km
Points of Interest: Sanctuary of St. Benedict of the Open Door

In addition to this main route, there are 3 alternative routes that can be consulted, as well as all the details of the main route, at dynamic map of the São Bento da Porta Aberta Path Network.