Fórnea

A strange geological phenomenon creates the illusion of a natural amphitheater. Fórnea resembles a massive subsidence of the Earth’s crust that begins at Chão das Pias and descends all the way to Alcaria.

Because the soils of the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros are hollow and contain voids, they could have given rise to caves, but also to this site: a depression millions of years old surrounded by waterways.

In the floodplain area there is a valley of olive trees, while in the surrounding area there are two waterfalls and two springs. The semicircular area is surrounded by the Serra de Ladeiras, Pena de Águia, and Cabeço Raposeiro. Erosion caused by rainfall and spring waters has created a striking natural landscape. Inside the Fórnea lies the Cova da Velha, a cavity with a spring that feeds the Ribeiro da Fórnea.

Flora: low shrubbery consisting of rockroses, rosemary, and rockrose bushes. There are also some fig trees, laurel trees, and arbutus trees. You can also find specimens of a tree that is rare in Portugal: the zelha. As for aromatic plants, pennyroyal can be found here.

Fauna: Due to its characteristics, Fórnea supports a wide variety of habitats, leading to the presence of different species of fauna: reptiles—ladder snake, horseshoe snake, sand lizard and the wood lizard; birds—spotted-backed harrier, short-toed eagle, booted eagle, stonechat, common chaffinch, blackcap, greenfinch, corn bunting, partridge, turtle dove, black-throated wheatear; mammals—fox, weasel, badger, and hedgehog.