Highlights of the Guardiana river valley

a picnic on the banks of the river
the scenery
the silence
History

The river valley has a very long history of human settlement, with remains from Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Phoenician, Roman, Visigothic and Moorish settlement all still in evidence. It was the river's rôle as a transport route for minerals mined in the interior that lead to this continuous settlement, a rôle lasting for the last 5000 years and into the mid twentieth century. Evidence of this trade can still be seen: from the twentieth century in the docks at Pomerão; from the Arabic period (7-12 century) at Cerro das Relíquais; from Roman and Bronze age remains at Cortes Pereira and Cova dos Mouros. In the Christian period from the 13 century, the river has been a focal point of conflict between Portugal and Castille (Spain), the best evidence of which can be seen at the river valley towns of Alcoutim and Castro Marim