Estate is located in Budens and is teeming with biodiversity
The municipal council of Vila do Bispo has acquired Herdade da Boca do Rio, a 128-hectare estate in Budens, through its right of first refusal for €990,000.
In a statement to the press, the council said it aims to “look after, preserve and enhance its territory by safeguarding its biodiversity, ecosystems, and geological, archaeological, historical and cultural heritage.”
The estate, purchased from ‘BDR – Investimentos, LDA.’, is part of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park and the Natura 2000 network, and is designated as a Special Conservation Zone and Special Protection Zone. It is described as a pristine area rich in biodiversity, featuring both flora and fauna, including some species in a wild state. The lower portion of the estate forms a humid valley where three streams – Vale Barão, Vale de Boi, and Budens – merge before flowing into the Boca do Rio estuary. This area, known as ‘Paul da Lontreira’, serves as a habitat for sea otters, which thrive in its clean waters.
The adjacent Boca do Rio beach, a 138-metre stretch of “golden sand and calm waters”, attracts both residents and tourists, thanks to easy access and car park, along with its natural beauty.
In other words, the estate is located in a protected area in its natural state, which “must be protected,” the local council says.
Boca do Rio is also home to significant archaeological remains, including a Lusitano-Roman villa that dates back to the 1st and 5th centuries AD, with its peak during the 3rd century. The archaeological site has been known since the 18th century and has undergone numerous studies and excavations over the years, the council explains.
Since 2003, the municipality has supported excavation and preservation efforts to protect the site from the nearby sea in collaboration with various universities and cultural entities. In 2017, a partnership between the University of Algarve, Germany’s Philipps-Universität Marburg, and Vila do Bispo launched the ‘BRIO/Boca do Rio: Um sítio pesqueiro entre dois mares’ (BRIO/Boca do Rio: A Fishing Site Between Two Seas) research project, which has led to new discoveries, including infrastructure linked to the villa.
The archaeological work continues under the supervision of the Algarve regional culture board, and in March 2023, a new authorisation for geophysical surveys was issued.
Additionally, the municipality has also purchased an 8,080-square-meter plot in Zimbral for €100,000, bringing the total municipal investment to €1.09 million.
