On September 19, participants of the “Water Route” learned about the water heritage of the Sintra municipality during a guided tour led by SMAS Sintra workers, who shared historical and technical information about water and its role in the territory.
The tour began at the Mina da Volta do Duche, founded in 1848 by Bernardino Egídio da Silveira e Castro, which once housed public baths and where the group was surprised by a queijada vendor.
The bus journey continued, passing by the Reservatório da Quinta Velha without stopping, and then to the Reservatório dos Capuchos, where the Capuchin friar Frei João de Santa Maria interacted animatedly with the participants.
The visit proceeded to the springs and the Reservatórios da Azóia and das Casas Novas. Throughout the tour, participants listened attentively to the explanations from the SMAS Sintra workers and had the opportunity to ask questions.
Teresa Pestana, a resident of Sintra for 17 years, learned about the initiative through the Sintra Municipal Council website and found it an opportunity to learn about water heritage. She adopts sustainable practices at home, such as rainwater harvesting and composting.
Inês Filipa discovered the initiative via Instagram and praised the staff's friendliness and attentiveness, as well as the dynamic interaction with the actors. She passes on good water-saving habits to her children, recalling the awareness instilled by elders about past water scarcity.
Susana Silva, an employee of SMAS Sintra, participated out of curiosity and enjoyed learning about the functioning of the reservoirs and the data presented. She believes such initiatives should reach more people to foster greater awareness of water's journey to our homes.
Liliana Oliveira, who resides in Vila Franca de Xira but spends significant time in Sintra, highlighted the chance to explore a less visible aspect of the Serra de Sintra, finding the initiative interesting for revealing other facets of the mountain known for its water.
For Sara Duarte, a resident of Eugaria, Colares, visiting a water mine was a key reason for participating. She noted that people often don't appreciate the complexity of water capture and treatment when they simply turn on the tap.
First launched in 2018/2019, the “Water Route” is an initiative by SMAS Sintra aimed at promoting and valuing the municipality's water heritage. This year, it was part of the European Heritage Days 2026 program, running until September 27.
