Pedreia de Avelino

More footprints from dinosaur times. This time without a hike.

In the 1990 municipal bulletin, it was reported: “We have saved historically valuable blocks in a quarry that, without expertise, would have been turned into flowerbeds.” This is initially a good example of how the city prefers to put itself in the spotlight rather than get to the point. The cultural commissioner wasn’t present when a smart bulldozer operator wisely refrained from throwing the stone slabs with dinosaur tracks into the gravel machine — which didn’t stop city hall from celebrating a public research institution as the discoverer. At least: “We acknowledge the positive collaboration with the workers.”

From politics to facts: the majority of the 108 tracks on five trails are from sauropods. Otherwise, the footprints leave room for interpretations, so the information boards focus on the few things believed to be known. What’s not mentioned: until 2016, this rock was the only evidence of pterosaurs in Portugal. It's less spectacular than all those prehistoric giants — but at least birds are what remains of the dinosaurs. You can easily find the rock, as a sign was finally put up after almost 20 years: in town, turn right off the main road towards the cape — it’s still in the middle of nowhere. There’s no entrance fee, and no one minds if kids jump over the barrier. A nice short detour, done in about 15 minutes.