Sent at 2015-12-22 | Tourism

The mayor of Ribeira Grande, Alexandre Gaudêncio inaugurated today the Barquinha walking trail, the third route developed by the municipality this year (already have been opened the trails of the Caldeira Velha and downhill/Bandeirinha), reinforcing the county’s touristic offer to visitors looking for walking trails.

"This trail, and the others that have been opened this year, are part of a strategy set by the Municipality of Ribeira Grande in opening more municipal walking trails, as they are a way to encourage a greater presence and stay of tourists in the county, "he said.

Alexandre Gaudêncio also pointed out that the bet goes in hand with the "growing demand of Ribeira Grande as a touristic destination and also the recommendations that are set out in the Strategic Plan for Tourism of Ribeira Grande."

The Barquinha trail is a municipal walking course that starts on the Estrada Regional (main road), in the nascent edge of the village of Lomba da Maia. It is a small linear route which starts in asphalt road and goes through an old footpath used by millers and land men until the 80’s of the twentieth century.

The entire coast between the towns of Maia and Ribeira Funda is known yet today as major corn grinding zone, production vines and fruit in general. During the tour the walkers can enjoy various views of the north shore. The tour ends on the secondary access road to the Viola beach.

Along the way comes various points of interest such as the shelter (structure used as shelter by millers and farmers), the viewpoint of Eira (flat area used for the mesh of dried vegetables, such as beans and broad beans), Barquinha, which names the trail and a small peninsula formed by drained basaltic lava, used by the population for fishing and bathing, located at the mouth of the ribeira do Preto.