Dated from I AD, a roman road crosses Mata da
Albergaria along Men’s Valley (Vale do Homem). While the road is very well
preserved, with ancient cylindrical mile marks and bridges, the woods are just
surviving human impact, mainly in high touristic season. When I was a kid, I
remember of how deep in the shade and narrow the route was. Now, vegetation is
somewhat retreating and the path as become wider, maybe due to dust made by
intensive summer traffic.
Hard winter promoted fallen trees within the
woods, opening patches where the Sun penetrates and invades the ground. This
allows for seeds and young trees to flourish but its decades of growth in a
very vulnerable and fragile forest.
One of the affluent of Man’s River is Maceira.
The roman road crosses it at this spot, by Mata da Albergaria’s Bridge.
Mata da Albergaria,
Gerês, Portugal
2012, May
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