PR4 NIS Trilhos do Conhal

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The walking path begins at Arneiro, where in the past all the inhabitants, included the women, were fishermen, nowadays only a few search for food in the river. Follow along a dirt track, heading towards São Miguel hills. With Portas de Ródão on the horizon, the olive grove is gradually replaced by holm oaks, fields covered with gravel and quartzite walls. Entering the mountains with its dense vegetation, meander through terraces hiding old olive trees. At the top, now among pine trees, pass next to Buraco da Faiopa (Faiopa’s Hole). The path carries on towards the castle of Ródão from which the traveler may contemplate the silent flight of protected birds such as the griffon vulture. In the distance lie the Tagus River, the mouth of the Ribeira do Vale, Conhal and Vila Velha de Ródão. Visit the viewpoint over the Portas de Ródão, with privileged views of the bridge of the Tagus River and Vila Velha de Ródão and over the Conhal, Pego das Portas and the Fountain of Virtues. The pathway goes down the rock, next to the hill full of junipers and strawberry trees and progressing towards Conhal. Take a moment to climb one of the giant piles of pebbles that compose it. Before reaching the Conhal we can visit the river dock of Pego das Portas, on the bank of the Tagus. After passing by the small vegetable gardens, with its wells, “noras” (device to take water from wells or cisterns, with awheel with small reservoirs or buckets), schist walls and moorish roof tile houses, the path reaches the fountain of ribeiro do Vale. Back to Arneiro, you can see the community ovens where bread was baked and appreciate the houses, unique in its painted trim, chimneys and tiny shutters allowing the passage of light. NATURE: this area is covered by Cork Oaks, Holm Oaks, Olive trees, Maritime Pine and eucalyptus. Among the shrubs appear the Rockrose, Broom, Lavender, Juniper, the Strawberry tree, Heather and Rosemary. You may see the Jay, the Robin, the Goldfinch, the Blackbird, the Blue Rock-thrush, the Partridge and the Quail, or larger birds such as the Grey Heron, the White Stork and in Summer the Black Stork, the Black Kite, the Osprey, the Egyptian Vulture, the Great cormorant (specially in Winter) and a colony of Griffon Vultures. By night you can hear the Eurasian Eagle-owl. The banks of Tagus abound with Reeds, White and the Grey willow, Poplar and Ash, and fishermen catch fishes such as barbell and several other river fishes. HANDICRAFT: pottery with small stones; embroidery and stitched from Nisa; bobbin lace; tatting; and felt appliqués and pulled thread hems. GASTRONOMY: cachola rice from Alpalhão; febras da matança; sarapatel soup; afogado soup; potato crumbs; papa ratos; maranhos; pezinhos with tomato sauce; feijões das festas; lamprey rice; and river fish soup. Sweets (cavacas, dormidos cakes, esquecidos, nisas, barquinhos). Mestiço cheese from Tolosa (Protected Geographical Indication); Nisa cheese (PDO); and sausages from Alpalhão.