Algarve Barrocal images
Image gallery of the fertile and multifaceted landscape of the Barrocal between the Algarvian coast and the mountains of the Serra
Rocha da Pena
The protected area of Rocha da Pena offers one of the very best vantage points for looking out over the vast expanse of the Algarve’s Barrocal landscape with all the geological oddities and diversity of fauna and flora that the region is famous for.
Rocha da Pena
The distincive rock formation of Rocha da Pena marks the transition area between the Barrocal and the Serra of the Algarve
Salir: view to the East
View from the foot of the water tower to the eastern outscirts of the village and the border of the serra.
Silves: Castle view
View from the castle of Silves to the surrounding fertile landscape of the Barrocal landscape.
Barrocal: Irrigation
To secure irigation during the hot summer month rain water is stored in cisterns.
Alte: Fonte Grande
The large fountain of the Ribeira de Alte, one of the creeks crossing the landscape of the Algarve Barrocal.
Ribeira de Alte
Paderne: Ribeira de Quarteira
Sitio das Fontes
A few miles to the north of Estombar the largest karstic springs in the Algarve can be found. A number of springs feed this section of the Rio Arade
Fonte da Benémola: Spring
One of the springs of this water rich area.
Fonte da Benémola: Beehives
Barrocal: Bee swarm
Barrocal: Beekeeper
Moncarapacho: Olive grove
Moncarapacho: Olive plantation
Some of the olive trees of the olive plantation are more than thousand years old.
Moncarapacho: Olive plantation
São Brás de Alportel
The village of São Brás, a former centre of the local cork industry, is surrounded by the typical landscape of the Algarve Barrocal.
Sta. Catarina: Clay Extraction
Two types of clay are extracted, red and white, that after combined in the right proportion will lead to the raw material that is used in tiles and other products. During the extraction process is necessary to be careful and to do a good cleaning around the lode of clay so that it is not contaminated with stones, dirt or any other material that may damage the quality of the clay. Both types of clay, red and white, are transported on trucks for the ceramics and are stored in two separate lots, being mixed only at the time that the paste preparation phase takes place. This is because we don't always use the same ratio of the two; it depends on the type of Terracotta we want to produce and the end result we want, tone, etc.
Sta. Catarina: Manual tile production
São Brás: Cork oak
We found this huge old coark oak in a hamlet near São Brás.
Cork harvesting
Every seven years a part of the cortex of the cork ork is excoriated.
Cork: A pure natural produce of Portugal
Barrocal: Windmill
On top of many ridges in the Barrocal Landscape you can find such foundations of wind mills.
Barrocal: Panoramic view
View from a hill north of Santa Bárbara de Nexe
Barrocal: Pasture
Barrocal: Blooming pasture
Barrocal: Blossoming almond trees
Together with olive and carob trees, almond trees (alfarrobeira) are dominating the cultural landscape of the Barrocal region
Boliqueime: Limestone quarry
In a quarry near Boliqueime the limestone is extracted and processed.