Serra da Arrábida, western Portugal by Teresa Farino A well-
preserved enclave of Mediterranean forest in western Portugal,
with a rich fauna and a superb limestone flora which includes
several endemics. Arrábida Cliffs near Portinho © Teresa Farino
The forest-clad, elongated hummock of the Serra da Arrábida is a
veritable oasis of natural vegetation amid the suburban sprawl
of the Setúbal peninsula, with an incredibly diverse wildlife to
match. Along the shore of the Sado estuary, its sheer flanks
drop sharply into a turquoise sea, the pale limestone cliffs
eaten away at the base to form small sandy coves. Although the
50km-long ridge of the Arrábida attains a maximum of only 501m
(Alto do Formosinho), the views from the top are truly
spectacular, giving the impression of much greater altitude.
Flora of the Serra da Arrábida More than 1,000 species of
vascular plants have been recorded from the Arrábida natural
park (10,821ha; also a reserva biogenética). Not long after
Christmas, hoop-petticoat daffodils (su