Legend of the Dragon of Alvarenga
In the mountains surrounding the parish of Alvarenga, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Paiva, one of the most chilling legends of local oral tradition echoes: the Legend of the Dragon of Alvarenga. According to ancient accounts, this winged and fearsome monster terrorized the neighboring villages for centuries, hiding in the caves and deep valleys of the mountains. For a long time, the cattle would mysteriously disappear, and the shepherds were afraid to take them to the higher areas, where the dragon supposedly lurked in search of food.
Fear reigned until the arrival of a fearless knight, coming from distant lands, who decided to face the beast to free the people from that terror. The fight between man and beast was long and fierce, but, at the end of a legendary combat, the knight managed to defeat the dragon, which disappeared into the depths of the mountains, never to be seen again.
Despite its end, the legend did not die out. The oldest people claim that, on the darkest and most silent nights, the echo of a distant roar can still be heard, as if the spirit of the dragon continued to watch over the mountains. Today, the story of the Alvarenga Dragon remains alive, passed down from generation to generation, mixing fear with fascination and reinforcing the rich legendary heritage of Vila Nova de Paiva.
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