Tábua

The  Aguieira Dam reaches Tábua next to the granite boulders of the Pedra da Sé. They are so impressive that they are not easily missed. To go down to the dam is nowadays very easy: the tracks kept by the fishermen are easily seen. At our feet, among the shadows of the oaks and chestnut trees we can see the shape of what seems to be a stone paved Roman road. It's sure that the Romans have crossed this region and C. Cantivs Modestinvs has built a temple at his own cost.  The inscriptions existing in the Chapel of São Sebastião do Couto do not mention where the temple was.The study of the remote documents of Couto de Midões show the markings of some roads that in some cases coincided with ancient stone paved Roman roads close to the Mondego River and also to the Cavalos River, near Sevilha.  These are itineraries that we can still follow today and the passing of centuries added to the  history:  it is manorial in the 18th, 19th and 20th century emblazoned houses that still exist in Midões and Tábua.  We see it in the Chapel of Senhor dos Milagres with its original octagonal plan. We see it also in the pillories of a lost autonomy such as in Couto or Midões. We see the history in the style of Architect Raul Lino, in the grandiose group of houses of Vila Nova de Oliveirinha. We still see it in the legendary stories of João Brandão, from Casal da Senhora. He waged war against the absolutists while commanding a Militia Battalion, spreading panic amongst the people. In spite of the controversy, he still holds an important place in the people's imagination. In this journey through history, both the eye and the taste are well catered for. This area is very near the Estrela Mountain where there is bread and maize bread (broa) that go well with the “sarrabulho” (dish made out of pig’s blood)  or with a “Tibornada” (baked jacket potatoes with codfish and olive oil).  But above all, there is the cheese from the Demarcated Zone of the Estrela Mountain. It is smooth and creamy. You eat it and want some more, specially when complemented with the good red wine of the Dão Region.