Serra de Sao Mamede Natural Park, 'The secrets of El Alentejo'

El Sierra de San Mamés Natural Park (in Portuguese Parque Natural da Serra de Sao Mamede) is a protected natural area that is located in the district of Portalegre in the region of Alentejo where it occupies an approximate area of ​​55.524 ha.

The mountain chain known as Sierra de Sao Mamede is made up of four peaks: Fria, Marvão, Castelo de Vide and Sao Mamede (the highest is 1025 meters). In addition to several examples of traditional architecture that can be found in the walled city of Marvão and Castelo de Vide (where the largest Jewish community in Portugal lived), there are many other points of interest: the towns of Esperanca and Alegrete or the remains of the city of Amaia.

In the arid Alentejo plains, the massive Sao Mamede Serra, some 40 km long, fulfills an important microclimate function, providing the region with levels of rainfall and humidity, which contrast with the surrounding territory.

This diversity of climate and the morphology of the soil give rise, in this small area, to a combination of Atlantic forest with Mediterranean vegetation, thus forming a rich laboratory vegetation.

It should be noted that this large park is an important nesting area, supporting more than half of the species that breed in Portugal such as vultures, eagles, owls, hawks and storks.

Also the visitor in a tour can find deer, wild boar and wolves, as well as rabbits, hares and a great variety of reptiles and amphibians.

If you go in winter you can see the snow while in summer the area is to cool off with the shade of its lush trees and in spring the mountains are full of color surrounded by vineyards, fruit trees or olive trees. Limestone as well as slate or granite will also be found in harmonious coexistence.

On the other hand, the cultural and historical heritage of the park is a privilege just by visiting Marvao, a charming walled town nestled on a spectacular hill from where you can see the extensive landscape from Portugal to Spain.