Absolute silence does not exist, but there are places where the noise of the modern world seems to slow down. Between horns and sirens of cities and the soft sound of nature, there is a kind of silence that is not the absence of sound, but a quiet presence that invites well-being. Finding these places is, for many, a form of reunion with calm and nature. In this article, we will tell you about a natural park 50 km from the Portugal border, which was considered one of the most silent places in the world.
Silent places around the world
It was this “one to hear” silence that led journalists from Condé Nast Traveler to look for the quietest destinations on the planet. Among the 50 selects selected, one of the most impressed is right next to Portugal.
These are the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, known in Portuguese as the Natural Park of Arribas do Douro, located in the Spanish provinces of Salamanca and Zamora, next to the Portuguese border. This park is known for its grandiose landscapes, deep canyons and its rich biodiversity, says.
Journalist David Moralejo describes the place with enthusiasm and emotion: “Silence echoes in the Arribes of Duero, the magical place where the Douro River turns into Douro, creating a natural border between Spain and Portugal, full of cliffs, canyons and waterfalls. I could not choose the silence of one season over another.”
A scenario for all stations
The text continues with a description of the different times of the year, where silence gains new colors, sounds and flavors. In the fall, after the vintage, the landscape acquires gold tones and the wines of the so -called heroic viticulture gain protagonism. Fruit trees, such as olive trees, mulberries and pomegranates, mark the landscape while the sunset seems to set the horizon on fire.
During the winter, the frost covers the villages in white and the silence gains weight. Inside the houses, the heat of the wood stove follows traditional dishes such as the “revolconneous pators”, rice with killing meats or loosening of lobsters.
Spring is marked by the explosion of flowers, between jasmine, lavender and will, while streams and waterfalls resume their natural pace, smoothly breaking the quiet of the valley. In summer, temperatures invite diving in hidden puddles.
Despite their calm, the cicadas cheer up the nap with their continuous singing. For Moralejo, “this is the cycle of life and silence, in one of the least populated places in Europe.”
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A natural refuge between two countries
The Douro Arribas Natural Park, one of the most silent places in the world, is one of the least inhabited zones of the Iberian Peninsula. Its remote location and natural wealth make it an ideal destination for those looking for tranquility, impressive landscapes and a closer connection with nature.
Despite being on the Spanish side of the border, it is an accessible place from the Portuguese Northeast, and many national visitors include it on tours through the Trás-os-Montes region and Alto Douro.
One of the quietest destinations in the world
Condé Nast Traveler’s list brings together 50 destinations that stand out for the serene environment and away from urban noise. The Douro Arribas Natural Park comes side by side with places such as Lake Alsek, Alaska; The Barton Creek cave in Belize; The Brouq Nature Reserve, in Qatar; The Chagres River in Panama; and Costalegre in Mexico.
Each of these destinations shares a common feature: they are spaces where human presence is reduced and the sound of nature occupies the foreground. They are, according to the magazine, places where it is possible to take a deep breath, disconnect from the digital world and rediscover silence in its purest state.
Silence with its own identity
In Parque das Arribas do Douro, silence is not absence, but presence. It is the breath of the wind between the cliffs, the flight of a bird of prey, the river stream or the tinnitus of insects in the summer heat. Each sound is part of a natural symphony that invites contemplation and rest.
Condé Nast Traveler’s international recognition contributes to giving visibility to a territory that, although discreet and the most silent in the world, has much to offer. It is a celebration of tranquility and natural beauty, at a time when both have become rare and valuable.
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