Pedreira do Avelino Natural Monument

This is not the most impressive dinosaur footprint site in Portugal, but it has one major advantage: accessibility. Located close to the road and easy to visit, it offers a quick stop for anyone interested in dinosaurs and prehistoric life. The footprints are preserved in the rock surface and can be observed without long walks or complicated logistics, making it a great addition to a family road trip through the region.

História:

Discovered in the 1990s, Pedreira do Avelino preserves one of the most important collections of dinosaur footprints in the Lisbon region. The tracks were left by large sauropods, the giant long necked herbivorous dinosaurs that roamed this area during the Jurassic period around 150 million years ago.

The site provides valuable evidence of dinosaur activity in what was once a very different landscape from the Portugal we know today. Its scientific importance led to its classification as a Natural Monument, helping preserve this remarkable window into the prehistoric world.