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Sign up Explore our Food Tours → the restaurant Joaquim Saragga oversees in Lisbon’s Arroios neighborhood where we’ve asked him to show us how to make one of Lisbon’s more iconic dishes: ervilhas guisadas Portugal revels in green-hued produce: fava beans but the ubiquity of frozen peas means that the dish makes frequent appearances on tasca and restaurant menus during all times of year “I know it’s very common around Lisbon,” says Joaquim he flips open a copy of Traditional Portuguese Cooking Maria de Lourdes Modesto’s Bible to Portuguese gastronomy Although he’s reluctant to call himself a chef – he prefers the term “tavern keeper” – the dishes Joaquim serves at Os Papagaios have roots in traditional Portuguese cooking but also feature subtle tweaks that come from modern cooking and culinary science traditionally [people] would make at home.” We ask him how his take on the dish differs from the standard This soup-like texture in Joaquim’s version comes from the addition of a vegetable broth as well as splashes of white wine to “perfume” the dish He also adds an additional punch of aroma via a piso – Portugal’s take on pesto – of cilantro he shows restraint in cooking the star ingredient “I like the peas with a little crunch,” he tells us savory meats; a generous addition of fresh herbs; peas; and those silky eggs This dish seems to combine everything that’s wonderful about Portuguese cooking in one pot Joaquim Saragga’s take on this dish includes a piso which can be made a few days in advance and kept in the fridge It also includes a light – “elegant,” in his words – vegetable broth This can be made with the scraps left over from preparing the dish – onion skins Joaquim suggests serving the dish with hunks of bread for dipping – both in that broth and in the egg yolks sliced (Spanish chorizo or other fully cooked pork sausage can be substituted) 1kg peas (peak-of-season fresh peas are worth seeking out but the dish doesn’t suffer too much from the use of frozen peas) Prepare the piso: With a mortar and pestle The highly curated quality of Apple’s streaming service has it producing more or equal success than its more established competitors While no one outside of Apple’s teams know exactly how many subscribers Apple TV+ has there’s proof of sustainable and growing demand for the platform’s original programming across a wide breadth of genres And when one looks at the ratio of success for programming Apple is outperforming many of its more established competitors While Apple TV+ has a fraction of the content available on Netflix, it has a stronger hit rate on average, according to Parrot Analytics‘ data which takes into account consumer research According to the Parrot data of online demand for content Apple TV+ has a higher ratio of its original shows in the outstanding and good category than in the average or below average category compared to the ratio for Netflix originals — and is about on par with HBO Max (not including HBO) This offer is not extendable to renewals or to any subsequent subscription years These Terms of Service (these “Terms”) are entered into between TheWrap (“WrapPRO” and you (“you” or “User”) and constitute a legally binding agreement between you and us These Terms govern all use of thewrap.com website and any other website owned or operated by TheWrap (collectively services and products purchased or accessed through the Website (collectively You accept these Terms by using the Website or the Services then you may not access or use the Website or the Services Your use of the Website and the Services is also governed by TheWrap’s Privacy Policy currently accessible at www.thewrap.com/members/privacy-policy The Services are available only to individuals who are at least 13 years old.\n Please check your email for confirmation details Did you know that President William McKinley had a parrot named “Washington Post?” The parrot trend has certainly persisted through time—there are more than 40 million kept as pets in the U.S While it makes sense that these intelligent and bejeweled animals would make excellent pets it’s anything but sensible when the illegal animal trade threatens biodiversity and accelerates extinction The business of exotic pets is poorly regulated and enormously profitable: Interpol values the illegal animal trade at $10 billion dollars placing it just behind guns and drug trafficking in profitability This illicit industry is believed to have contributed to the threatened status of 66 parrot species and the extinction of brilliant blue Spix’s Macaw In Mexico alone, the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife found that between 65,000 and 78,500 parrots were traded internally, according to a study in 2007 More than 75 percent—about 50,000 to 60,000 parrots—died before reaching a purchaser After publishing their report on the Mexican parrot trade the researchers brought their information to the authorities and in 2008 the Mexican Congress has made it illegal to buy one of the study’s leading researchers has helped launch a public awareness campaign with the Environment Ministry to highlight the importance of parrot conservation and to dissuade people from buying wild parrots Peru also shares Mexico’s problems, with an estimated 88,000 parrots traded per year in the country’s internal market alone, according to a study released by the journal Bird Conservation International researchers monitored 20 wildlife markets in eight cities and identified 34 species even though the Peruvian government only allows seven species to be traded and one is endangered—the gray cheeked parakeet The study also finds that even for the seven species that can be legally traded the numbers of parrots in the markets far exceeded the allotted amount The Peruvian government has tried to address this issue with mixed success Although it created the Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA) it has had limited success in enforcing the wildlife quotas But the study finds hope elsewhere: it notes that five years ago but the combination of dedicated local authorities and local rejection of the parrot trade have reduced the illicit trade The study advises increased public awareness campaigns against the illicit trade so that demand will decrease and fewer trappings will take place Conservationists are also working hard in places like Puerto Rico and Bonaire to restore these impressive animals Pledge to stand with Audubon to call on elected officials to listen to science and work towards climate solutions By creating your account, you accept the terms and conditions from Tintin.com You accept to receive from Tintin.com personalized notifications related to Tintin (new events or exhibitions You will be able to set your preferences in your account Tintin.com uses cookies to improve your experience on the site, to analyse its use and for marketing purposes. For more information, please consult the Privacy Policy The Factory was unlike anything Milwaukee had ever seen before - and it changed nightlife expectations forever Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker It’s a natural phenomenon that you could set your calendar by: every August the turquoise-fronted parrots (Amazona aestiva) of Brazil’s Cerrado biome start laying their eggs poachers have been stealing eggs and chicks from the nests to supply the illegal pet trade There are no precise figures for the number of birds that get caught or die in this process but it’s believed to be in the thousands each year “In the São Paulo metropolitan area alone, undoubtedly more than 12,000 hatchlings are brought every year to supply illegal sales,” says Marcelo Pavlenco Rocha, president of the NGO SOS Fauna Rocha has been following the illegal trafficking of turquoise-fronted parrots in the Cerrado for 18 years a researcher and coordinator of Projeto Papagaio-verdadeiro (Turquoise-fronted Parrot Project) says more than 11,000 chicks have entered the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center (CRAS) at the Mato Grosso do Sul Environmental Institute (IMASUL) after being seized by state agencies over the past 32 years And this is just the tip of the iceberg; most of the poached birds are never confiscated “Considering the fact that many chicks die during the different phases of this illegal process which involves taking them from their nests holding them in unhealthy containers and transporting them inadequately and that surveillance doesn’t manage to intercept most of the birds taken illegally from nature it is estimated that the animals received at treatment centers represent a small portion of the number of turquoise-fronted parrots that are actually poached,” says Seixas who has worked to conserve the species since 1992 Turquoise-fronted parrots are classified as a near-threatened species on the IUCN Red List “This category is given to species that are near to or have a strong probability of reaching the status ‘threatened with extinction,’” Seixas says The species is also among those included in the National Parrot Conservation Plan of Action, called PAN Papagaios in Portuguese at the Environment Ministry’s Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) It’s considered the most highly trafficked species among the six included in the PAN and also the most sought-after on the black market of Brazil’s 12 native parrot species “This is due to its reputation as being the ‘best talker’ when compared to other species,” she says “This is how it earned the nickname ‘true parrot.’” But wildlife trafficking isn’t the only threat to these parrots The turquoise-fronted parrot also suffers from the destruction and alteration of its habitat due to deforestation They also face retaliatory hunting by farmers frustrated by the damage that the birds can cause to crops turquoise-fronted parrots are also found in the Caatinga as well as in parts of Bolivia and Paraguay Much of the trafficking that occurs in Brazil today is in the Cerrado especially the state of Mato Grosso do Sul where officials consider the activity one of their main environmental problems Gangs of poachers also work in the states of Mato Grosso In 1997, Seixas founded the Turquoise-fronted Parrot Project, today run by the Parque das Aves bird park and the Brazil Neotropics Foundation in response to the poaching going on in Mato Grosso do Sul she found that the birds typically lay their eggs in August and the young birds leave the nest by November This consistent schedule and the fact that turquoise-fronted parrots always seek out the same trees to lay their eggs and raise their young allow animal smugglers to plan their activities and steal the hatchlings with little effort the traffickers converge on Mato Grosso do Sul’s border region with the states of São Paulo and Paraná where they make deals with local landowners workers and others about the price of each chick and details for their extraction The most intense poaching goes on in the towns of Jateí Rocha from SOS Fauna says the people doing the actual poaching receive between 25 and 40 reais ($4.50 to $7.25) for each chick a lieutenant colonel with the Mato Grosso do Sul Environmental Military Police unit says the figure can go as high as 60 reais ($11) many of them still without feathers and with their eyes still shut are kept hidden in the forest inside camps or the homes of locals who participate in the trafficking They’re then transported in batches — stacked in boxes with little ventilation or water — across state lines by car Queiroz says most of the chicks poached from Mato Grosso do Sul are sent to the São Paulo metropolitan area A smaller number go to the state of Paraná Rocha says the birds collected from the Cerrado in other states go as far afield as Rio de Janeiro the birds are sold at street fairs and online for prices ranging from 200 to 450 reais ($36 to $82) each but there are no records of confiscation because they are more easily hidden by traffickers These are generally sent overseas due to ease of transport; live birds are noisy and require more space and care than eggs The Mato Grosso do Sul Environmental Military Police unit has different strategies for tackling the trafficking Its personnel visit areas where the parrots breed to encourage residents and neighbors not to become involved with smugglers looking for chicks They also patrol any accessible nesting areas and maintain a database of residents who have previously worked with the traffickers to monitor ongoing activity Of the 330 environmental MPs in Mato Grosso do Sul 25 are dedicated to fighting wildlife trafficking Their projects are carried out according to studies done by the MP intelligence unit “We also inform the Federal Highway Police and the Military Police in the region While the environmental police work to prevent having the hatchlings removed from their nests the local MP has managed to seize those which were taken,” Queiroz says large numbers of baby turquoise-fronted parrots continue to be trafficked out of the region Rocha is critical of the work being done to address the problem He blames it on a lack of coordination between the various governmental agencies and civil institutions involved “A procedural protocol must be created that will vary from state to state the public institutions alone do not have the power to act alone because of the many lines of thinking within each institution,” Rocha says Seixas says the increased surveillance activity against the trafficking of turquoise-fronted parrots initiated in recent years in Mato Grosso do Sul is fundamental for tackling the problem in the most affected regions it is important that they are maintained year after year throughout the entire extension of the Cerrado and Atlantic Rainforest during the species’ reproductive period If [surveillance] is continuous and effective positive results in the medium to long term are possible,” she says Queiroz says there need to be stronger penalties in place for trafficking trafficking-related activities such as the capture transport and sale of animals without government authorization are classified as minor offenses punishable by six months to a year in jail this means that perpetrators can typically be freed on bail and never serve time for their crime the Public Prosecutor’s Office is also required to give perpetrators the option of paying a fine or performing community service there was a poacher that we arrested three times in the same breeding season,” Queiroz says A shrinking turquoise-fronted parrot population is not only the consequence of traffickers’ constant removal of chicks and eggs from the wild This species lays its eggs in cavities inside the trunks of trees like the macaw palm or queen palm which are commonly damaged during poaching This leaves fewer tree cavities available for the species to nest in with each passing year “The result is that many natural turquoise-fronted parrot populations many be diminishing or aging,” Seixas says Fewer birds in their natural environment could also result in changes or imbalances in the ecosystem Another problem is the transmission of zoonoses — illnesses that can be transmitted from animals to humans an endemic infectious disease in Brazil that is difficult to diagnose and can cause pneumonia in humans Since the arrival of the Portuguese in South America in the 16th century parrots have traditionally been kept as pets throughout Brazil Their main attraction for people is their ability to mimic human voices Brazil had no laws in place regulating the capture Today, there are many legally licensed commercial breeders of turquoise-fronted parrots in Brazil. A 2019 report by the NGO World Animal Protection found that 74 of the 246 legal commercial bird breeders in Brazil raise and sell A But trafficking of the species remains intense: it ranked eighth among all species trafficked in Brazil from 1998 to 2018 a biologist and wildlife campaign manager at WAP says legalized sales have not been effective in countering trafficking; the best-selling species in the legal trade also tend to be the best-selling species in the illegal trade “A drop in demand for wild animals is doubtless one of the strongest forces against trafficking,” Forlani says adding that legalized sales of wild animals for the pet market must end He says investing in environmental education is essential for helping people understand that liking an animal does not mean having to own it “I don’t see [law enforcement] as an effective tactic to reduce trafficking of parrots even if more effective legislation is passed We need to reduce the demand for wild parrots and invest in programs that help people to appreciate nature in nature itself.” She says efforts to sensitize local communities where trafficking occurs are essential together with a society-wide mobilization to get people to stop buying parrots Banner image of a turquoise-fronted parrot (Amazona aestiva) by Matt Watts This story was first reported by Mongabay’s Brazil team and published here on our Brazil site on Aug The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] It is beautiful (…) like the chance encounter on a dissecting table between a sewing machine and an umbrella I started my research on installation for the institutional fabric and its possibilities when the reference is installation, montage and curatorship with Lautréamont, which later became a dissertation on João Maria Gusmão and Pedro Paiva. Falling Trees and Papagaio (djambi) presented in Papagaio I sought an aesthetic relationship between the context and the artistic method up to the reconceptualisation of the space and pieces through its interaction with the other pieces and factors makes us think is it the same piece or a new where reconstruction and adaptation establish a basis of meaning that bargains and regulates the space according to the aesthetic experience Gusmão e Paiva develop their artistic projects in the field of photography and 16mm film in a satirical critique of scientific positivism Their projections explore the filmic language through the history of cinema multi-layered images represent the language created through fantastical and unlikely episodes Their work addresses aspects such as Daumal’s Abyssology1 the mise en abyme – from the French ‘to put into abyss’ – the International Society of Abyssology created by the artists which illustrates the ‘science of imaginable solutions’.2 For the duo the use of obsolete processes of reproduction underpins an aesthetic discourse with philosophical references to Nietzsche Daumal and Newton through a fantastic and sci-fi literature identification and decoding reveal that each corresponds to a piece and not only to the reference it creates The work interpretation is intensified by the allusion created by the mise en abyme it always depends on the interactions created for the exhibition This notion is corroborated by Dällenbach’s theory that places viewers and artists in the relationship that the sign sets up as a narrative unit3 contributing with a signifier that absorbs the story and becomes the subject The ability to illustrate itself shows the duo’s aptitude to transcend the exhibition beyond its physical and sensory mechanisms 3 Suns is a static image about movement and an analysis of memory and process to construct a mise en abyme It suggests the idea of abyss and exhibitions within exhibitions themselves 3 Suns is the duo’s will and dedication to the International Abyssology Society the reflection of this between real and unreal but forming a continuous identity of itself and of what it offers to each exhibition But the work’s mutability is visible in Terçolho The notion of immutable things being mutable was illustrated before not only because of its difference in the duo’s way of performing but also because it builds an introduction to the exhibition within the exhibition showing the artistic game on the articulation of memory and mise en abyme Falling Trees, which was not part of the Terçolho exhibition is for the artists the return to the source to the sound that has created the audible echo an illusory image is drawn on the violence imposed by the action the duo communicates through a premeditated and conscious image of what they witness The work has a quite different analysis from the Papagaio exhibitions to the Lua Cão sessions it is here challenged by sounds foreign to the scene The image is based on a triangulation of the senses of the other works that tamper with the piece the work is perceived according to construction and destruction together with the projector’s continuous sound In Lua Cão another means of association and “recombination” of signs is used the way the work carries out a return to the origin of exhibitions is visible approaches notions such as being and “non-being” ventriloquism and the concepts of faith and belief It also makes a comparison between Western and sub-Saharan societies The work does a mind reading through Papagaio’s sessions The duo’s ventriloquist action is mimicked through the interactions created with Estrela’s works whose ability to penetrate visual and sonic space has a great influence on the work The viewer is turned towards what is supposed to be the sound of the film creating the fantasy that the image is real and testing the viewer’s belief Through the site – the garage – the visitor is placed in an earthly space Gusmão and Paiva leverage the narrative construction in favour of this action. They creatively illustrate a continuation action of the exhibition, an exhibition about the exhibition, reflected through memory as mise en abyme. This is an identifying notion of the duo’s creativity, through a linguistic and pictorial dictionary that is constructed in the mind. 1. Daumal, René, 2020, A Grande Bebedeira, trad. por Lurdes Júdice, Lisboa: Dois Dias edições. 2. Alfred Jarry, “Book Two: Elements of Pataphisics to Thadée Natanson: Definition”, in Jarry, Alfred 1996, Exploits & Opinions of Doctor Faustroll, Pataphysician: A Neo-Scientific Novel by Alfred Jarry, trad. Por Watson Taylor, Boston: Exact Change, pp. 21-23 3. Lucien Dällenbach, “Mise en Abyme and reflexivity: 1. Typology and Immediate Analysis Dällenbach”, “Basic Properties: The Reflected Narrative”, in Lucien, 1989 orig. 1971, The Mirror in the Text. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, pp. 41-43. 4. Roland Barthes, “The Death of the Author”, in Barthes, Roland, 1977 orig. 1968, Image-MusicText, trad. por Stephen Heath, London: Fontana, pp. 142-148. with a specialization in Philosophy of Art from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Coimbra and a master's degree in Curatorial Studies from the College of Arts of the same university His dissertation was entitled The Artistic Installation through the work of João Maria Gusmão and Pedro Paiva: Analysis of the works 3 Suns with Gabriela Albergaria for the Laboratório de Curadoria; the Coimbra Biennial Anozero '19 - The Third Bank anthological exhibition by João Maria Gusmão and Pedro Paiva at Fundação de Serralves He collaborated with the Serralves Foundation and played the role of Executive Producer of Museum Projects for the Porto Museum and Libraries the following stand out: the Exposição Inaugural do Ateliê António Carneiro 2024; A Revelação: Os Manuscritos de Santa Cruz 1 2023; A Urgência da Cidade: O Porto e 100 Anos de Fernando Távora 2023; e Parque da Cidade: Composição da Paisagem he works at the Porto Matadouro Cultural Center as Executive Producer of Museum Projects contributing to the development of the Cultural Center and the Convergências Museum Subscribe to the Newsletter (EN Version)! I accept the Privacy Policy Subscribe Umbigo With a basket on their head and an axe and machete in hand they need energy to venture into the forest in search of babassu coconut palms In the routine of at least 500 women across 25 communities in the Bico do Papagaio region located in the northern state of Tocantins They have had to enhance their daily routines in response to concerns about violence a warehouse was inaugurated in São Miguel do Tocantins where babassu products from family farming are processed the fruit's mesocarp is crushed and transformed into flour while the workers also process the coconut to extract oil and olive oil The products are then sold by the workers themselves at markets and fairs The products are labeled by the Regional Association of Women Rural Workers of Bico do Papagaio the 72-year-old farm worker and coordinator of the association who resides in the municipality of Praia Norte The warehouse has improved our lives by not only processing our products but also handling packaging and marketing "I have been breaking coconuts since I was seven years old children don't go to the forest; they have to focus on studying and playing," said Lima She hopes that the workers can benefit from policies such as the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) and the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) to sell their products to schools in the region and transform this regional food into snacks for children Our warehouse will be crucial for this," she said The farm worker believes that one of the issues affecting workers is the use of pesticides by landowners in the region the trees are becoming increasingly distant," she explains One milestone the workers commemorated in 2023 is the 15th anniversary of the Free Babassu Law that safeguards palm trees in the state of Tocantins Similar regulations are in place in the states of Piauí which we partly use for cooking and partly sell to purchase other items The oil derived from babassu is used for making soap We process babassu flakes into flour and use the milk to enhance the flavor of our meals It is crucial that we unite and continue advocating to preserve our babassu trees," Lima added garnered international recognition for advocating for workers' visibility and was a key figure in securing the passage of the law designed to protect both the workers and the palm trees The revitalization of the facility and the acquisition of machinery required an investment exceeding BRL 250,000 "By having access to a facility that has been approved by health surveillance they not only ensure the quality and safety of their products but also gain access to new markets," explained Selma Yuki Ishii director of Alternative for Small Farming in Tocantins (APA-TO) The warehouse has been a dream come true for Rozeny Batista Alexandre a 46-year-old coconut harvester from Axixá do Tocantins as it has provided her with greater support for her trade "We raised and educated our children with coconuts We work hard to provide healthy food for our families," she shared Having worked with the product since childhood she highlights that most workers do not own land "We harvest coconuts on other people's land the law protects our right to harvest coconuts." Alexandre reminisces that babassu was primarily used for household consumption I'd take it to the store and exchange it for rent I used straw to make mats and cover the house we have various other products derived from babassu." Climate change is affecting production in the Cerrado biome the off-season lasts from the end of December to April "The harvest starts in May and lasts until October We gather the coconuts in the wild," explains Alexandre "We consider the palm tree to be like a mother That's why we take great care of it," she emphasizes Rozeny Alexandre noted that the products have gained popularity among vegans it is a cultural norm that most of those who work with babassu coconut are women "It's a tradition for the husband to tend to the fields while the wife works with the babassu," she explains "We endured hardships as children while breaking coconuts But I always said that I didn't want my son to experience what I went through." Alexandre highlights that working together fosters collective collaboration ensuring that no one feels isolated in the forest "Breaking coconuts alone is very challenging When we gather in a circle and sing while using the axe it becomes more than just work; it's a shared experience Our dream is to acquire a machine to enhance this process," she explains The workers are advised to make social security contributions there is plenty of parking on the dancefloor in Downtown Milwaukee these days there have been a number of happening rock and roll joints in the heart of the city over the years Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories in that station's most popular podcast. Charles Ogwo Charles Ogwo Victor Osimhen’s 4 goals riot helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria cruise past the Seleção dos Falcões e Papagaios of Sao Tome & Principe Education Desk at BusinessDay Media is a seasoned proactive journalist with over a decade of reportage experience $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); Seyi John Salau Seyi John Salau Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick on Sunday evening lifted the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a resounding 6-0 win over Sao Tome & Principe to conclude their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification at the Uyo Township Stadium Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick with goals from Ademola Lookman Taiwo Awniyi and Samuel Chukwueze were enough as the Jose Peseiro’s led team concluded their campaign in style It was another big win over Sao Tome & Principe as the Super Eagles move top of Group A with 15 points from six matches to complete a 16-0 aggregate demolition of the tiny Island nation Read also: Osimhen, Oshoala nominated for 2023 Ballon d’Or awards the Super Eagles played a good game but it was a very easy win over a Sao Tome & Principe who were outmatched by the Eagles from the beginning of the game “This performance doesn’t prove that Nigeria is a top contender to win the next AFCON Let’s hope the goals come when needed Great teamwork though,” said Henry Okonkwo The Super Eagles of Nigeria already qualified for the 2023 AFCON heading into the Uyo encounter but needed the win to top the group ahead of Guinea-Bissau Anthony Nlebem Anthony Nlebem How many times have you crossed the Vasco da Gama Bridge spent hours on end shopping in Freeport and not even made a quick trip to the town of Alcochete you don’t know what you’re missing This land by the Tagus has much more to visit than you think including a handful of centuries-old churches For this economic guide to the neighboring country Neither Lisbon nor Porto: this is the town in Portugal where flamingos “paint” the landscape and “infinity pools” join the Tagus Alcochete is a unique combination of history Saline tradition and environmental protection come together in this 360-hectare natural paradise that dates back to the 13th century and was once Portugal’s main salt producer At Salinas do Samouco, visitors will find an authentic salt pan in operation testimony to the “white gold” that once sustained many families in Alcochete Nearby Salinas do Samouco is one of the most privileged places for hiking and birdwatching or it wouldn’t be a Special Protection Area visited by 170 species of birds the highlights are the flamingos (don’t miss the guided tour of the Flamingos Trail) Located in the heart of the Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve, this environmental space next to Freeport is made up of two distinct areas: Sítio das Hortas and Pinhal das Areias donkey rides and hiking are some of the activities you can do there it has become well known among wind sports enthusiasts It also hosts the International Kite Festival The municipality of Alcochete also has the Samouco River Beach a children’s playground and a picnic area the riverfront invites you to take a stroll overlooking the Tagus and serves as a starting point for discovering the town pass by the churches of Nossa Senhora da Vida and Misericórdia and take a short walk to Ponte-Cais there’s nothing better than the tranquillity of the Rossio Garden with the town (and Lisbon) as its privileged backdrop don’t miss out on getting on board and taking a tour of the Tagus Natural Estuary Considered to be the town’s most important religious and historical monument this church is also known as the Igreja Matriz de Alcochete and was built in the 15th century the tiles in the chancel and the various 16th century paintings stand out it began as a chapel (of the Holy Spirit) and was later renamed the Church of Our Lady of Life and is still known as the Chapel of Our Lady of Life Afonso Figueira and his wife Júlia Carvalho this church has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1996 decorated with thousands of eighteenth-century blue and white tiles depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin this religious site reflects the cultural and architectural heyday of the town and has also been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1996 The local people believe that this church was part of the former Palace of the Infantes of Beja the church dedicated to the town’s patron saint has an unknown construction date although there are reports of visits by the Order of Santiago dating back to the 16th century Baroque and Rococo elements and has undergone several refurbishments and reconstructions over the years you can still admire half of the walls covered with blue and white tiles from the 18th century which illustrate scenes from the life of the patron saint traditional quarter with narrow streets and colorful houses having been inhabited over the years by people linked to traditional activities such as salt extraction