Treetop roaming trails

The walkway among the treetops of Serralves lets people wander in space, time, or both. A new walkway must be built among the beautiful, magnificent treetops of the park. It begins at the east end, by the new cinema, and rises gently toward the sky; step by step we enter the canopy and the ground recedes. We walk toward a soft oak, circle its rough trunk near it, and continue toward an elegant redwood. Then we encounter wild bird feeders; suspended in the air, we feel almost flying. We see a shy wild pigeon, a blackbird living among branches, and a jay that seems to hop in the air; we hear the tapping of a woodpecker seeking insects in bark. We understand that a single tree is a world of rich, diverse life. We stop, rest and quietly observe life in the canopy. We meet a group of students chattering with questions, and a multigenerational family, the youngest peering from a stroller, the oldest in a wheelchair. One can easily enjoy the route alone. At the open-air classroom, a guide explains the plants and animals along the way; visitors stop, linger and feel. Now we are very high, seeking new, unseen views, craving a glimpse of the Foz do Douro and the vast Atlantic. We tread on timber; the walkway is almost entirely wood, with supports, bridge deck and railings integrated into trunks and branches. Over time they will resemble each other more, as if the walkway had always been there, like a tree that naturally found its place. The bravest can climb the steps connecting ground to the highest point, which also serve as emergency escape. We complete the route and return to the start, but after this unique Serralves journey, we have changed: between treetops, closer to sky yet also nearer to earth.