Penedo de Santa Enfémia

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Tourist Attraction

District: Braga > Terras de Bouro > Covide > Calvário

Location

The Penedo de Santa Enfémia is located in the Calvário area, in the village of Covide, municipality of Terras de Bouro. It is situated on a gentle slope, nestled in a predominantly rural environment, punctuated by cultivated fields and dense pine forests. From this spot, one can contemplate a vast natural landscape, with the imposing peaks of Gerês outlining the horizon, lending an atmosphere of profound tranquility and serenity.

Millennial History in Stone

This remarkable granite outcrop is not merely a natural formation; its surfaces hold a legacy from past eras. Dating back to the late Bronze Age, the rock was engraved with various rupestrian inscriptions, predominantly covinhas (cup marks) and podomorphs (footprints). These millennial engravings transformed the rock into a prehistoric sanctuary, where ancient peoples performed their rituals and expressed their beliefs.

Between the Ancient and the Sacred

The religious importance of Penedo de Santa Enfémia endured throughout the centuries, taking on a new form in the Modern Age. The site, once a rupestrian sanctuary, was Christianized, demonstrating a remarkable continuity of worship. In the center of the outcrop, a simple Latin cross wayside shrine was erected, its vertical shaft functioning as a column, and the arms featuring subtle decoration. More recently, an ara (altar stone) and an altar were added, complementing this space of devotion that has remained active for millennia.

The Legend and the Image

The Penedo de Santa Enfémia is also the birthplace of an engaging local legend. Popular tradition associates the rock engravings with Santa Enfémia herself, interpreting them as the marks the Saint left when walking and kneeling on the rock. This narrative adds a layer of mystery and devotion to the site, inviting visitors to contemplate not only the beauty of the landscape and the antiquity of the stones, but also the resonance of the stories that shape the territory's identity.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt