Furnace of the Moors

Location

Forno dos Mouros is located in the Portas Vermelhas area, in the locality of Silva Escura e Dornelas, belonging to the municipality of Sever do Vouga. This site is situated on the western slope of the Serra do Arestal, a position that affords it a comprehensive view of the surrounding territory. Its elevation in the landscape allows, on days of good visibility, to contemplate the horizon and sight the sea.

The Natural Grandeur

This site is marked by an impressive granitic outcrop, a vast and isolated rock formation that stands out in the orography of the Serra do Arestal. Its dominant presence, overlooking a vast area of territory and the sea, leads one to imagine that this may have been a point of special significance for ancient civilizations, perhaps imbued with a sacred character or a place for ritual practices.

The Ancestral Engravings

Forno dos Mouros is notable for the rock carvings engraved on its rocky surface. In an area measuring approximately 4.5 meters in length by 1.5 meters in width, divided by a longitudinal groove, a variety of decorative elements can be observed. Among these, notable features include small cavities, simple circles with a central dot, and complex concentric circles, both double and triple. Additionally, there are circles with tangential appendages, semicircles, arcs, spiral patterns, intertwined designs, irregular grooves, and strokes with geometric shapes. These engravings constitute an important cultural legacy, revealing the artistic and symbolic expressions of the communities that inhabited this region in remote times.