Category: Nature > Reserva natural
District: Setúbal > Barreiro > Barreiro > Barreiro e Lavradio
This site of notable interest is located in Barreiro, encompassing the areas of Alburrica and Mexilhoeiro, integrated into the union of parishes of Barreiro and Lavradio. Its geographical configuration is particular, composed of two small peninsulas. These formations result from the accumulation of alluvium over time, solidified on an ancient oyster bed. Its position offers an interesting perspective on the surrounding landscape, marked by the proximity of the Tagus estuary.
The Alburrica and Mexilhoeiro Site reveals traces of human presence dating back to very ancient times. The discovery of stone findings, such as weights, axes, and perforators, suggests an occupation of the area as early as the Neolithic period. This antiquity underscores the lasting importance of the place for the communities that settled here, shaping and being shaped by this environment over millennia.
One of the most distinctive features of this site is its vast heritage linked to milling. Here, one can find the Alburrica windmills, including the imposing Giant Mill, and other smaller mills, the East and West ones. In addition to the windmills, the area stands out for its tide mills, once served by old basins resulting from the transformation of salt pans. Each tide mill constituted a small complex, where, in addition to the milling house and warehouse, there was the miller's residence, a boarding dock, and its own boat, demonstrating the complexity and organization of these industrial infrastructures. This place also witnessed other important maritime and industrial activities, such as shipbuilding in Alburrica, active until the mid-20th century, and, at Ponta do Mexilhoeiro, the remains of the old boarding bridges for the steamers that connected the Tagus and Sado rivers.
The natural environment of the Alburrica and Mexilhoeiro Site is a central element of its value. The peninsulas, formed by the deposition of sediments on an oyster bed, confer a unique identity to the landscape. The site integrates two beaches and areas that were once salt marshes and salt pans, today transformed into the "basins" that fed the tide mills. This interlinkage between natural elements and man-made structures creates a unique landscape, where nature and history intertwine.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.657700984444, -9.0869469328889
Coordinates DMS: 38°39'27.7"N 09°05'13.0"W
On-duty Pharmacy Barreiro
