Aldeia do Piódão

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The village of Piódão

Piódão is a portuguese medieval village in the Açor mountain range, close to its highest point (1 340 meters).It is classified as Public Interest Monument since 1978, and was later listed as one of the Historical Villages of Portugal.

Piódão is located in the country’s central region, at the eastern border of Coimbra municipality.

Population ~180

Coordinates 40° 13.7 N, 7° 49.5 W

The village was built like a downhill cascade of dark houses in schist stone with slate roofs. Amidst them stands a pristine white-and-blue church .

The church dates back to the 17th century, but was restored lately in the neoclassical style.

The interior is quite luminous and bright, rich in gold decoration, under a beautiful wood-paneled ceiling.

Building houses this way, closely clustered, helps protecting from strong winds and the severe summer sun.

At each corner of the narrow steep alleys and staired lanes, through a window or on a terrace, you can find the frame for a nice photo.

The village surprises for its harmonious integration into the natural setting of the surrounding forested hills.

Piódão is famous for its traditional houses with shale walls and blue-painted wooden doors and windows.

Building materials are offered by surrounding nature: schist, slate stone and wood. The slate-roofs are either saddle roofs or four side roofs.

Piódão has the typical outline of a mountain settlement.

The houses ascend the slope, sheltered from the winds, and narrow streets of cobbled stone go up the hill or across, following the terrain’s relief.

Local people live mainly of agriculture (corn, potatoes, beans, vine), livestock (sheep and goats, cheese production) and also beekeeping. The small fertile areas in difficult terraced ground doesn´t help.

The youngsters have been emigrating to foreign countries or to the coastal zones in search of a better life, leaving behind an aging population. This situation threatens the existence of the village itself in the long run.

Currently, the desertification of areas in the interior is a major concern.

Some jobs appeal to young urban people (tourism, handcraft, facilities) and young couples are slowly coming to these villages.

The local museum

The small museum displays traditional furniture, kitchenware, farming and home working tools.

That’s a happy dog!

Foz d’Égua

Around 3 km from Piódão, at the confluence of two little brooks, there is a natural pool in an astounding scenery – with even a suspended wooden bridge !

The pedestrian suspended bridge was built for an easier access to houses and water mills from the opposite slope. But it can also provide an “Indiana Jones” – like experience !

In summer this is an idyllic river strand, not easy to access but offering a good natural swimming pool.

© Mário Ricca, 2013

Sources:

Photos and text excerpts from

• http://www.panoramio.com/• http://www.pbase.com• http://www.flickr.com/• http://picasaweb.google.com

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