Pena (Aldeias do Xisto) — Attraction in Góis

Charming mountain village but terrible road access.

I came here in late afternoon for sunset and ended up not staying as long as I wanted due to concerns about navigating such poor roads back in the dark. So, I didn't truly get to appreciate this village. Maybe it is better than what I saw.

Like the other Aldeias do Xisto, it is tiny and rustic with shale buildings, adding a serene beauty and architectural wonder. This is maybe more apparent in Pena than Comareira, Aigra Nova or Aigra Velha. Pena is steeper and the Góis mountains tower over it with a small canyon below, giving it a much more wild and imposing feeling. Felt like an escape from the world. Buildings are well preserved and the atmosphere is quiet, only being able to hear the river below, the wind in the trees, and birdsong.

There is very little parking, and driving inside the village should not be done. This seems to be a self-limiting aspect which helps the village retain its isolation and charm. The same can be said for the access roads.

I drove from Aigra Nova and it was awful. Most of the drive was fine, with very narrow and precarious mountain pass roads, but it was paved. Closer to Pena, the road turns into a dirt track meant for farming or off-road vehicles. It is incredibly bumpy with large rocks, ruts, and potholes, and going faster than 10-15 kph seems impossible with regular cars. One such boulder slammed into the bottom of my car (there was no way to avoid it) and it worried me. If the road was in better condition, it may encourage more visitors, but perhaps they don't want that. I understand that.

Loved the mountains and nature and solitude. Didn't care for the road. Probably better to hike in from another nearby village and spend the day exploring all the hiking trails. I did not see any cafes or minimercados, though. So...

We visited this town with our friends who are from Cepos.

There is an adventure lab here , and we did end up finding the regular geocache up on the hill that was burned by the recent fires.

This is one of the towns that still is productive due to many years ago realizing the...

Muito bem decorada e arranjada. A casinha tem tudo o que se precisa para fazer e preparar as refeições, até tem maquina de lavar roupa apesar de não haver estendal. 1 piso soalho todo em madeira é muito vibrante ao andar por cima dele e barulhento ao ponto de acordar quem dorme... Não aconselhável a pessoas com mais de 1.5 de altura(casa muito baixa).... Mas o pior de tudo é o acesso á aldeia. Estrada muito estreita de 2 sentidos sem espaços para encostar quando se deparamos com outro carro em sentido contrário... e sem bermas, sem raides de protecção que ao minimo descuido ou para quem sofra de vertigens arrisca-se a ir parar lá abaixo....duvido que se sobreviva sempre que se fizer aquele caminho é arriscar...