Folgosinho, Serra da Estrela, Portugal

^{Photocolage made with Canva}

Good morning, friends!

Today I want to share with you one of the hikes I took while on vacation in the Serra da Estrela region last December. The village I want to tell you about today is Folgosinho. A real population enclave, with a very low population density and only 442 inhabitants (source)... Of course, during the Christmas festivities and the August vacations, a real pilgrimage fills these streets and houses, bringing a real breath of fresh air to this little parcel of paradise on the fringes of the Serra. In this small place, despite its low population density, warm hospitality and friendliness mark each person who deigns to visit and let themselves be carried away by the fragrances and the flavors of the local gastronomy. My main objective on that December morning was to eat at one of the region's most famous restaurants. I'm not exaggerating when I say that it's necessary to book, and often more than a month in advance. Well, that morning of the second day of December was no exception... And I was completely caught off guard, as the restaurant didn't even have a seat for lunch... not even if I waited for those who were sitting down to finish their meal, as there were reservations for the following hours.... Well, that didn't put me off. Often what ends up happening is a window of opportunity.

And so it was! After lunch, at a place I'll share with you in a future post, I decided to go and discover a bit of the quiet and welcoming village. With streets that are very similar to where my parents were born, the walk had many lingering notes of nostalgia and the scents of a wood-burning fireplace... anyone who has ever been in an atmosphere perfumed by the smoke of a fireplace knows what I'm talking 'bout. From the cobbled streets surrounded by greenery, to the Mother Church and the chapel, to the streets and fountains decorated with popular quatrains immortalized in tiles, alluding to water and fountains, brimming with ancient wisdom, everything belongs here and stays here so perfectly. If you ever find yourself wandering around these locations, believe me, it's worth spending part of your day discovering the good things this little piece of land has to offer.

I hope you enjoy this post. Look out for a second one on this town, but with a focus on gastronomy.

Bem Hajam🍀

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Photographic edition with PhotoScape X