The final day of our short break began with a hearty breakfast and then the hotel check-out.
Rather than returning home immediately, we drove to the Torre, stopping at various viewpoints on the way.
As ever, the views were spectacular.
For the first time, we visited 'Nossa Senhora da Boa Estrela' (literally, Our Lady of the Good Star), the patron saint of the shepherds.
This impressive sculpture, carved directly into the rock face, is 7m (22 feet) high with a small altar below.
The area enjoys its own festival held each year on the second Sunday in August when many visitors attend a special mass.
Viewing from the roadside, the steps up to the sculpture seem quite ordinary, but reaching the altar requires some clambering over the rocks to a second staircase also carved out of the rock.
A babbling brook with some wildlife passes through the valley and under the road bridge,
With a little imagination, it seems like a giant rock robot stands guard on the other side of the bridge 😁
Further up the road, we find the Cântaro Magro, a giant relief at 1929m (6,325 feet) carved out by glaciation, it sports a 500m almost vertical drop on one side.
The final stop was our fourth visit of the year to Serra da Estrela where we planned to enjoy yet another marvelous lunch at the restaurant.
But first, a short walk around the roof of Portugal to work up an appetite.
We spotted this Iberian rock lizard hanging around on the pathway.
