Museum of Foz Coa

 

We were supposed to enter a lock at about 8:30 this morning but had to turn back.  March and April have been very rainy and so the dams are releasing water since they are full and the locks can’t work while the draining is going on.

Douro Valley

We learned about Antonia Ferreira, born in 1811. She became a widow at age 33 and took over the wine business of her husband. In 1860 the Douro Valley was affected by Phylloxera, a pest that destroys the roots of the grapes. The virus spread throughout Europe, cutting wine production by 80%. People deserted the valley because of the lack of jobs. Antonia went searching for a cure, which she found in England. The solution was to graft European vines on American roots. She invested her fortune in bringing this practice to the Douro valley saving the industry.

Actual Etching

We had a 2-hour drive to the Museum of Foz Coa. Here are original and replicas of the etching carved over the last 18000 years. There are over a thousand etchings, carved using Flintstone tools, found in 70 different locations.  They were found in 1991 during the construction of a dam. The high school students here petitioned to stop the construction of the dams, and it became a national political issue in 1996.

Etching highlighted

We went on to Castle of Castelo Rodrigo, built in the 12^th century, less than a mile from the Spanish border.

Castelo Rodrigo gate