Routes
PR 1 SAPL – Route of the Valley
Crossing points : Cova /Tabuleiro /Chã de Manuel dos Santos
Length : 5,6 km
Time: 2,5 h
Type of route : Linear
Start of the route : Miradouro da Cova
End of the route: Cabo de Ribeira
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The Cova is an exclusivity of Santo Antão, famous as one of the “7 wonder” of the island, due to his remarkable beauty. Situated 1170m high, we are talking about an impressive volcanic caldeira, whose diameter is around 1000m. Lava’s shapes and volcanic projections emerge from it.
The road also cross various interesting places : the viewpoint of the volcanic crater of Cova, an area that is a natural park, where, beside the fields of fruits and vegetables, you can also observe a large variety of endemic species ; in Bordeira, the travelar can face a spectacular view of Paul’s Valley, where the green of the land is surrounded with craggys peaks, a good reason for admiration all along the way.
Natural heritage
- Flora: Tornabenea (Tornabenea insularis), Campylanthus glaber (Campylanthus glaber glaber), Micromeria (Micromeria forbesii), Campanula jacoboea (Campanula jacoboea) Sonchus daltonii (Sonchus daltonii), Dragon tree (Dracaena draco), Periploca(Periploca laevigata chevalieri), Echium Stenosiphon(Echium Stenosiphon lindbergii), Artemisia gorgonum (Artemisia gorgonum), Conyza (Conyza feae), Mato-botão (Glob
ularia amygdalifolia), Tolpis (Tolpis farinulosa), Paronychia (Paronychia illecebroides), Jatropha curcas (Jatropha curcas), Aeonium gorgoneum (Aeonium gorgoneum), Mauritius hemp (Furcraea foetiada), Euphorbia (Euphorbia tuck - eyana)
- Fauna. Birds: cape verde swift (Apus alexandri), Cape verde shearwater (Colonectris edwardsii), Barn Owl (Tyto alba ssp. Detorta), Brown-necked raven (Corvus rufficollis), little egret (Egretta garzetta), Cape Verde Petrel (Pterodroma feae), Osprey(Pandion haliaetus), Black Kite (Milvus Migrans), Iago Sparrow (Passer iagoensis), Lesser cape verde kestrel (Falco tinnunculus ssp. Neglectus), eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). Repteis: Gekko (Chioninia fogoensis antaoensis).
Interesting points :
Natural values :
- Countryside’s paths with large diversity between lunar landscapes and verdant riversides.
- Natural viewpoint of Bordeira
Cultural values :
- Traditional houses, built in stone and roof in shaff.
- It is usual for women to wear headscarf and apron.
- Pilgrimage of Santo António (12th of June) starting in Cabo de Ribeira; and lasting for the patron saint’s celebration («Santo Antoninho», 14th of june)
- Nª Sr.ª de Fátima (Lombinho, 13th of May)
- Local gastronomy : , fish’s broth, cachupa
- Local products : , grog and similars, local craft.
