At 561 meters of altitude, in the largest green area of the county, the new Esporões Swing has a panoramic view of the city of Braga and its archaeological heritage. The swing has been installed at the top of Santa Marta das Cortiças, in the parish of Esporões. In the highest hill in the city, the structure was created to offer a view of the delights of the city to visitors of all ages and nationalities.
Situated at an altitude of 561 meters, in the largest green area in the county, the facility has a panoramic view of the area, while sharing space with a vast archaeological heritage that is still kept underground. The main view is a fortified settlement, also known as castro, inhabited since the Iron Age and a testimony to the Roman occupation in the region, dating back to the 8th century BC.
All the surroundings of Santa Marta das Cortiças allows a 360º view over the valleys and mountains of Minho and, from this swing, people will be able to see the region from another perspective
João Oliveira, President of the Esporões Parish Council
The installation of this swing is also an invitation to learn about this history, this region and admire the green valleys that surround the city of Braga, as well as a unique landscape that extends to the Atlantic Ocean.
The idea came about because swings are part of practically everyone’s childhood imagination, and evoke an enormous sense of freedom. The inauguration of the Esporões Swing took place on Tuesday, June 1st, with the presence of the Mayor of Braga.
Portugal has seen an unprecedented surge of these panoramic swings: there’s the Trevim swing and the Burgo swing, which inspired a young woman to create the Talegre Swing, in the parish and Serra de Alburitel, in the municipality of Ourém; and in June the one in Penedros da Cabeça.
While sitting on the swing you can have access to endless landscapes, and the experience becomes even more memorable, especially at sunset
João Oliveira, President of the Esporões Parish Council
In July of 2020, the Mezio swing opened, in the Serra do Soajo; in the same month, the São Silvestre swing, in Mesão Frio; and the CerLove swing in Vila Nova de Cerveira – which even led to epic queues, weeks later. In August, the Sobreiro swing, near the Talegre viewpoint, in Moncorvo, opened; in the same month, the Antas P’ro Mondego swing was opened; also the Carriça swing, in Arganil; and the Canal Bridge swing in the parish of Abragão, Penafiel.
In September, the swing of Senhora da Guia was opened in São João da Fontoura, Resende; and in Batalha, the swing of Barrozinha. In Santa Cristina, Mealhada, a swing that celebrates the rebirth of a village that was surrounded by flames was born in October: the Santa Cristina swing.