Etapa #5. Rubiãos/Casco - Tui

Stage 5

Another quiet stage with an urban character than the previous. It has moderate slopes and good signage. Being a short stage, it allowed us to visit the interesting Valença do Minho Fortress and reach Tui in time to do the same with its historic center.

Today we left Portugal and enter Spain crossing the international bridge over the Miño river. On one side and a pedestrian walkway separated from road traffic.

We leave Rubiães along the Roman road that goes to the Ponte Romano-Medieval over the Coura River, then we pass the small village of Pecene and immediately afterwards São Bento.

Then we go through a pleasant wooded section under a thick fog descending to Fontoura passing in front of a charming chapel located within a well-groomed park.
We continue along local roads and paths until we reach the Pedreira River, which we cross through the Ponte Pedreiras, another bridge of Roman origin and located in the town of the same name. The route is now more urban, forcing us to cross some other road with a higher volume of traffic. Then we enter Arão passing by the Capela do Senhor de Bonfim, open to stamp the credential (self-service).

We go through some streets finally entering Valença Do Minho.

In front of a large fountain we take the ascending street that leads us to the Fortress A jewel of bastioned military architecture, with 5 km of wall, a living and multicultural fortress. The houses, the military buildings, the churches, the views of the Minho River, it is a military bastion that served to defend the independence of Portugal, now the streets full of shops and countless restaurants are a very popular place, especially by Spanish people.

We continue on our way going down directly to the international bridge that crosses the Miño, leaving Portugal behind and entering Spain through the town of Tui.

In the afternoon/evening we visit its historic center, including the spectacular Santa María Cathedral and giving us a well-deserved tribute with a dinner, now typically Galician... and tomorrow... more!