Cliffs of St. Andrew (*) (International Douro Natural Park) (Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo)-Vultures and Berrões in badlands
January 13, 2011 by Castile
Categories: Municipalities , District-Guard , Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo , More , Viewpoints , All items , Natural Areas
A few miles Almofala is the small chapel of St. Andrew of Arribas built in 1909 and is located within walking distance of the ruins of the Manueline chapel. The two temples are built on a proto-historic settlement Romanized.
We are immediately greeted by two berrões (Verracos), haughty, which limit the entrance door of the lobby of the chapel recently, after observing their intimacies and came to the conclusion that they are a nice couple, but do not date because they have no muzzle. There are two granite sculptures, which were usually placed within the limits of towns and erected as an expression of worship to animals. These totems are distributed in Tras-os-Montes, south of the Douro only found here and in the historical village of Castelo Mendo.
The door is locked, but this guy jumps the fence traveler disdainful (attention can not show this post to the mama, because I jumped about two meters).
The hall and chapel are trivial but pleasant. Open new gate, escalavrados way between walls, terraces few traces of roman buildings, other, and drove it to me (even without knowing it) for an ergonomic boulder, which is great lookout for granite canyon jungle river Agueda, to remember his twin docked in the river Coa Cidadelhe (***). On the right bank of the territory we have our friends Castilians.
The traveler likes to prance in these baroque, but here you feel intimidated because his fall a good meal to serve to griffins. One is the sound of the wings of these animals to fly, sometimes below me.
The number of vultures sighted is impressive, some of them almost touch them and worried me to watch those abantesmas, stand still because I only eat carrion, which for now is not my case, I wonder how there much food for so many animalejos so alike!
Board on the struggling Douro International Natural Park on the St. Andrew Arribas
"In full cliffs of the river Agueda, a mythical place where you look at the prehistoric remains of human occupation, this concerns a wild and rugged landscape, a natural enclave that houses an important riparian bird community.
Noteworthy are the vultures, locally called by abutardos, with dozens of couples divided by rocky outcrops. These birds are being protected by law prohibited the disturbance and the approximation of the nests.
Other species characteristic of this valley are the Egyptian vulture Britango locally known as the Eagle-real, and black stork. It can be seen occasionally the black vulture.
The two chapels are surrounded by olive groves are the target of an important festival, the St. Andrew Arribas in the month of August. "
I conclude with a compliment. There is a small charming pedestrian route certificate, with great scenic beauty, the margins of Albufeira Santa Maria de Aguiar (*), is the Tower of Almofala (*), by St. Andrew of Arribas (*) and the beautiful cruise the Roquilho (which lies on the route to Santiago de Compostela).
Note I: From castro know nothing, there will be a kind soul out there that can supplement these meager information?
