Monsanto
A village hidden within the boulders
Monsanto Village - João Paulo
Lying on the east of Portugal, close to the Spanish border, Monsanto is one of the oldest and certainly the most eccentric of all the villages of Portugal. Stretching around four hundred feet up an extremely steep hill and built between huge granite boulders, the historical village is one of the most remarkable in the whole of Europe.
The village houses are somehow built inside the boulders, around the boulders and beneath the boulders. These fascinating homes are decorated with hanging baskets and earthenware bowls of bright flowers and cooking herbs.
At the top of the hill stands a very old square built fortress from which the tourist can see stunning views of the surrounding countryside. In the lower part of the village stands a tiny Misericordia church and a couple of little town squares.
For tourists taking in both Spain and Portugal during their vacation, Monsanto´s close proximity to the Spanish border (it is less than 100 miles from Salamanca) makes it an attractive place to spend an evening. Visitors to this area may well find it contains the most memorable sights of their holiday.
Hotels in towns and cities close to Monsanto
Hotels in Belmonte
The little town of Belmonte is famous for being the birthplace of Pedro Alvares Cabral, the discoverer of Brazil. The voyage is celebrated to this day every September in a religious procession inwhich a statue of Our Lady of Good Hope is carried through the streets in a small boat representing Cabral´s exploring vessel. Belmonte is 40 km from Monsanto.....(More)