Faia Brava


Faia Brava is a natural reserve in northern Portugal. It is the first privately owned natural reserve in the country.
The reserve covers. Bordered by the Côa River, it is part of the, a UNESCO world heritage site.
Given its strong biodiversity, Faia Brava reserve is identified as IBA, and is also one of the Natura 2000 areas.
WWW Official Site

Location

Faia Brava is in northern Portugal. It is located in the municipalities of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo and Pinhel, Guarda district.
It is 40 km north of Guarda and 17 km to the southeast of Vila Nova de Foz Côa.

History

Before becoming a natural reserve, Faia Brava was farmland.
In 2000, the reserve was established by, and is, since then, owned and managed by this association.

Natural components

Faia Brava reserve is characterized by strong biodiversity and picturesque landscapes, formed by steep canyons, forests and plains.

Flora

Faia brava encompasses over 180 species of plants, including cork oak.

Fauna

The reserve is home to 25 mammal species including wild horses and cattle, it also hosts 100 birds species, including vultures, eagles, eagle owls and black storks.

Tourism

Besides being an attractive natural spot, Faia Brava is surrounded by different touristic attractions:

Architecture

Besides its natural potential, Faia Brava hosts many traditional constructions, reflecting the vernacular architecture of the region.
These constructions are mainly dovecotes and traditional houses destined to touristic visits. They are made of stone and clay, with roofs of wood and tiles.