Mural Pedra do Valado

Epic mural at the Armação de Pêra fish market, painted on the facade facing Praia dos Pescadores (Fishermen's Beach). Measuring 24 meters in length and approximately 4.5 meters in height, this work celebrates the richness and biodiversity of the Pedra do Valado Reef Marine Natural Park in the Algarve.

The mural pays homage to a vast marine territory of approximately 156.23 km², stretching along the coasts of Silves (opposite Armação de Pêra), Lagoa, and Albufeira.

The artwork subtly highlights the importance of the Integral Reserve of the Park, a critical area where access is strictly controlled—limited only to scientific research, environmental monitoring, and visits authorized by the ICNF (Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests). This essential restriction aims to safeguard and restore the most sensitive and threatened ecosystems found there.

The painting's foreground immerses us directly in the reef's marine life, showcasing some of its most notable inhabitants:

Seahorse: A delicate figure, symbolizing vulnerability. The mural highlights the fact that this is an endangered species that occasionally forms small colonies in this location.

Grouper: Represented with its characteristic imposing presence, this is one of the reef's largest bony fish. Its presence in the painting underscores that "Pedra do Valado" is, in fact, one of its favorite places to inhabit.

Nudibranch (Sea Slug): Its inclusion brings a touch of color and complexity. This fascinating mollusk represents the reef's less obvious diversity.

Octopus: A very intelligent and quite common species in the Algarve, whose representation adds movement and mystery to the seabed.

The flora is also represented. The mural's background is enriched by gorgonian gardens, which give it the appearance of a colorful underwater forest, and by communities of brown and calcareous algae, essential for the health and structure of the reef's ecosystem.