Albardo

It is believed that at the end of the 17th century, when Albardo possibly already had a parish status, it had 30 houses and 120 inhabitants. Albardo was founded in Quinta da Barda, a settlement in the parish of Vila Fernando. Not much is known about its past, but according to some locals there are tales referring to a tapir and a menhir, as well as some ancient thermal baths which may have once existed here.Heritage: The parish church, dedicated to Espírito Santo (the Holy Spirit), the Espírito Santo Chapel, used for funeral services, several cruises, the Miradouro do Calvário (Calvary Belvedere) and the watermills, despite being abandoned, providing great charm to the surrounding landscape.Legend: the Legend of the Temptation of Lucifer, related to the origin of the Albardo festivities. It's a typical legend of the former parish, possibly dating back to the 18th century and passed down from generation to generation.According to the story, someone allegedly challenged Lucifer and went to meet him in a mine where, it was said, there was something strange. Once the person reached the location, and after expressing a few defiant words, he felt a weight on his back. In the midst of his distress, he appealed to the child of God and heard the reply: ‘’ The only thing that saved you was holding on to that guy's beard‘’. When he returned home, offered the celebration in honour of the Child of God, a ceremony maintained by the local community.Local Organisations: Associação Cultural e Recreativa dos Amigos de Albardo (Friends of Albardo Cultural and Recreational Association) was founded specifically to satisfy one of the population's desires and needs: the opening of a Day Care Centre/Home Assistance.