Branca - Santo Estêvão

Some important agricultural properties are located on this moorland in Coruche, where the origin of the most Portuguese dish, Cozido à Portuguesa, is legitimately claimed. A place where different cabbages, sausages and vegetables are produced, the ingredients of this wonderful stew. At the end we can’t forgetting the typical desert Arroz Doce (sweet rice).

From the asphalt of Estrada dos Alemães, we head to Branca’s exit. After 3.5 km, the road bifurcates and becomes now a sandy macadam, which we follow in the right lane. Over the next 7 km, large enclosed estates succeed each other on both sides of the road, with extensive forestry explorations of little landscape interest. The route can become a bit tedious, but the fire prevention and traveler's safety require it. 500 m before we reach the N119 road, we turn left and proceed, still by macadam, until we enter into Mata do Duque forest, where luxurious villas have been installed. At the end of the road, we turn right to the tarmac road, and further on we cross the N119, next to Almansor riverbed. After 1.3 km, through the cultivated moorland and pastures, we come across Lusitano crossbreed horses, from Herdade do Zambujeiro. In the Coudelaria António Guerriero's equestrian training center, there are coupling classes with sport horses. We follow 2,7 km till the center of Santo Estêvão civil parish, near the municipal market. The name of this locality comes from the first Christian martyr, the Jewish deacon Stephen. With convicted opinions and attempts to convert to Christianity, he was accused of blasphemy and sentenced to a violent death, just outside the village. Full of history and traces of ancient defensive fortifications, possibly from Roman times, this village belonged to the Order of Avis in the 16th century. As usual, we go to the local parish council in order to collect the necessary information for our stay.

Special Protection Area for the Birdlife of Ribeira de Santo Estevão

Covering the entire river valley, which includes the Site of Ornithological Interest, the Special Protection Area for the Birdlife of Ribeira de Santo Estevão is an area of alluvial soils, occupied by rice fields, a network of channels skirted by tábua, surrounded by an area covered with cork oak, together with meadow pine. There also subsists a small palustrine area of the paul type, composed of a dense patch of willows and tábua. Vulnerable biotope (paul), important feeding area for Limosa limosa during winter (rice fields).