A walk down one of the most beautiful rivers in the region.
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Last time we visited Santa Clara a Velha we took the opportunity to have a walk along the picturesque Mira River in the Alentejo, Portugal. The river flows from the Santa Clara Barragem down past the village then on to Odemira and out to the coast. In Santa Clara village there is a lovely little spot by the ford where you can sit under the weeping willow.
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As you walk along the river you pass vegetable plots on the outskirts of the village. There is almost always an old chap pottering around in each plot, digging over the soil, tending to the young plants or gathering in the crops.
Ponte de Maria
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The walk opens out into wider fields at the bottom of the valley, then you come to the Ponte da Maria. The old bridge sits in a wide pool covered with water lilies which provide cover for the many terrapins that live in and long the river. They are very shy and you need a lot of patience to spot them before they dive back under the leaves into the water.
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From here the path winds beneath the steep sides of the valley where snakes and lizards warm themselves on sunny rocks. A real hidden gem is the hide that you can scramble down to and sit to watch the birds and wildlife in a small clearing. It was built by a local hotel owner and I can’t thank him enough. We have spent many a happy hour in the cool of the hide soaking in the silence and the scenery of this place.
You can walk all the way to the Santa Clara barragem (damn) but we decided to just have a gentle walk, absorbing the beautiful countryside. We are leaving the hike to the barragem for another day, and I can’t wait to go back!