Algares
Amieiros
Amiosinho
Amioso Cimeiro
Amioso do Senhor
Amioso Fundeiro
Boiça
Cabeçadas
Candeia
Caniçal
Carrasqueira
Casal Novo
Chã de Alvares
Cilha Velha
Coelhosa
Corga da Vaca
Cortes
Estevianas
Fonte dos Sapos
Fonte Limpa
Foz de Alvares
Lomba
Madeiros
Mega Cimeira
Mega Fundeira
Milreu
Obrais
Portela do Torgal
Relva da Mó
Roda Cimeira
Roda Fundeira
Simantorta
Telhada
Vale da Fonte
Vale do Laco
Varzina

The village of Amiosinho is unusual in that the village has been built on both sides of a steep valley, that joins the valley of the Ribeira do Amiosinho (also known as the Ribeira da Roda). This means that the wash-house, for example, is on the north side of the valley, and the chapel of St.ª Luzia is on the south side, entailing a lot of walking up and downhill for the inhabitants of the village! A network of narrow streets and stepped passageways lead between the houses. In the bottom of the valley there is one of the region’s most beautiful swimming places. Steps lead down to the river, where it has been dammed. The water here is 3m deep, and it is possible to see every stone on the bottom and every little fish. It is said that this water is good against rheumatism.
We know that the Romans were active in this valley prospecting for gold, and there is evidence in the region that mining goes back at least as far as the Bronze Age. Above the village of Amiosinho is a mine called “Mina dos Moiros” (“Mine of the Moors”).

Sr. António Lopes, who was tending his goats, told us about his village:
The founders of the village were Maria Rita and Joaquim Simões in the year of 1853. Maria Rita was from Alvares and Joaquim Simões from Carrasqueira. They met at a dance in Alvares and fell in love, but Rita’s father was opposed to the relationship, and the two lovers fled to the place that is today the village of Amiosinho. At first they almost died in the icy winter, and as they had no money they had to go to the hills to dig out roots to make charcoal. When Maria Rita’s father saw them at this work and saw their pitiable state he forgave his daughter and brought them food and goods.

All the land on the sides of the ribeira was cultivated in the past. It was a rich and fertile place and many ox-carts left the village carrying olive oil and wine. The lagar was in Relva da Mó. The olives were taken by ox cart to the lagar that operated 24 hours a day for 3 months of the year. One ox would work, going round and round moving the 3 stones while the other one was eating. There were five mills on the riverside of the Ribeira da Roda. One of the mills is still functional but no longer used, and the others are all still standing. Maize was cultivated, and rye and wheat were bought for grinding in the mill and then used to bake wonderful bread.

Sr. António Lopes worked all his live as a resin collector, and sold the resin to the companies of Chã de Alvares. The resin was carried by ox cart to the top of the hill at Amiosinho and collected there by the two companies. Three lorries would be sent to pick up the resin that had been collected around the village and even they couldn’t carry it all. The cart track that led to the top of the hill was built by Sr. António’s grandfather, Luís Simões. He also built the first bridge for crossing with oxen at a place called “Banda Além”. The bridge was covered with heather, so that the animals would not be afraid or slip. Luís Simões also built a shed on the top of the hill where he kept the carts for carrying goods around the local villages. He had six oxen, and distributed goods to Cabeçadas and Alvares, bought from the families ‘Carpuças’ and ‘Matos’ from Lousã , as well as the olive oil, wine and other goods from Amiosinho.

At some time in the early 1970's Sr. António happened to meet the Portuguese Prime Minister, Dr. Marcelo Caetano. Dr. Caetano asked Sr. António how life was in the village and if they had any shortage  of food. Sr. António answered that they had more than enough to eat, but that when somebody in the village died they still had to be carried to the cemetery at Alvares. Two men would make a bundle of cloth and take turns to carry the body on their backs along a narrow track full of rocks and stones, sometimes only managing 50m at a time if the body was very heavy.  Dr. Caetano promised that he would send some diggers to clear a road, as they were on the top of the hill opening the airstrip of St. António da Neve. A few months later the street was made from Relva da Mó through Amiosinho to Alvares.