Curral das Freiras, Civil parish in Câmara de Lobos, Madeira, Portugal
Curral das Freiras occupies a deep mountain valley surrounded by steep cliffs that rise over 3,280 feet (1,000 meters), creating a naturally protected settlement in the central region of Madeira.
In 1566, nuns from the Convent of Santa Clara sought refuge in this remote valley to escape pirate attacks on Funchal, bringing their convent treasures and giving the village its name, which means Pen of the Nuns.
The annual Chestnut Festival celebrates the locally grown chestnuts with traditional sweets, music, and regional crafts, while the Ginja Cherry Festival honors another important crop through community celebrations and culinary demonstrations.
A single tunnel road built in 2004 provides the main access route from Funchal, connecting this formerly isolated community with the capital and improving transportation for residents and visitors.
The valley's terraced hillsides support cultivation of sweet cherries and chestnuts at elevations near 1,500 feet (457 meters), producing regional specialties that have sustained the local agricultural economy for centuries.
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