FÃO
41° 31' N; 8° 47' W
Fão is known for its beach, Praia de Ofir.
Fão has the largest medieval necropolis in the Iberian Peninsula (Medieval Cemetery of Barreiras), demonstrating the impact of the Black Death. Still, during medieval times, Fão was a relevant salt production centre. The historic center of Fão dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
Its natural wealth is exuberant, thanks to the partnership of the sea with the estuary of the river Cávado, creating dunes and cliffs, pine forests, heaths and marshes, which are inhabited by countless animal and plant species. Much of the coastline of Fão is protected within the area of the Natural Park of the North Coast.
The main economic activities are agriculture, fishing, tourism and services.
OFIR BEACH
Ofir is a beach located in the parish of Fão, municipality of Esposende, District of Braga.
The name Ophir appears in the Old Testament several times, including to designate a land far from Israel where gold was collected. Ophir gold is often referred to as a separate gold, which is perhaps due to the joint expedition of King Solomon and King Hiram (Tyre, Phoenicia) which left the Red Sea and brought back 14 or 15 tons of gold from Ophir.
Thus, perhaps the Portuguese beach is related to a new Ofir discovered by the Phoenicians. A famous local legend, the "legend of the horses of Fão", even states that "the biblical Ofir" was in the place of the current Ofir.
OFIR
N 41º 31' 12,24; W 8º 47' 18,38
