Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa: Fariseu

Archaeological Park of Côa Valley: Site of Fariseu

Google Maps:
41.086785255917405, -7.110598003918261

Type of site:
Open-air Site

Place of location: Site of engraved rocks
Village/Town: Vila Nova de Foz Côa
Municipality: Vila Nova de Foz Côa ()
Region: North Region
State: Portugal
Telephone: (+351) 279 768 260 (+351) 279 768 261
Website: https://arte-coa.pt/visitas/fariseu/
E-mail: visitas@arte-coa.pt

Natural Environment:

The Côa Archaeological Park consists of a headquarters, in the town of Vila Nova de Foz, and two visitor reception centers, from where guided tours are made to the three most significant rock settlements. In Vila Nova de Foz, you visit the Canada do Inferno and Fariseu; in Muxagata, Ribeira de Piscos; and Castelo Melhor, the destination is Penascosa.

Archaeological evidences in the site:

There is diversity of rocks (which can be observed by boat with tour guide) with engravings, such as carved horses, aurochs, deer, goats.

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Opening Times:

From Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m and from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m

Booking and access:

Reservations through:https://arte-coa.pt/en/produto/boat-visit-2/

It is necessary to visit the site with an official guide, either form the museum or an authorized private one.

Nearby cultural destinations:

The Côa Museum, in Vila Nova de Foz Côa. Chalcolithic site/ Bronze Age of Castelo Velho de Freixo de Numão, about 12 km. A little further away is the chalcolithic site of Pala da Moura anta, about 28 km.

Nearby natural destinations:

Canadá do Inferno and Ribeira de Piscos

Accommodations (Tourism Website):
https://www.centraldereservas.com/hoteles/portugal/guarda/vila-nova-da-foz-coa/hotel-vale-do-coa
Restaurants (Tourism Website):
https://arte-coa.pt/restaurante/

Age of the artistic representations:

Upper Paleolithic.

General description of the destination:

The route begins a few meters downstream of Canadá do Inferno. From here, visitors kayak to the Fariseu site. Until you get there, you will have the opportunity to see some of the carved rocks of Canada do Inferno and Vale de Figueira that can only be seen from the river. Like Canada and Vale de Figueira, the Fariseu site is on the left bank of the Côa, with some of its rocks located in the parish of Vila Nova de Foz Côa and others in Muxagata. In Fariseu, visitors see not only rocks with figures from the oldest phase of the Côa (before 23,000 years), but also others with figures from the Magdalenian phase (between 18,000 and 14,000 years) which stand out for their high naturalism.

History of the site:

Its discovery dates back to 1991, when the area was prospected archeologically on the occasion of the construction of a hydroelectric dam.