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Perched atop the high Serra da Estrela mountain in eastern Portugal, the ancient village of Monsanto is nestled among massive boulders, with its red-tiled houses clustered together, creating a striking scene. Every year, millions of tourists visit to admire the uniqueness of Monsanto, the standout highlight of tourism in Portugal.
The ancient village nestled amidst gigantic rocks in Portugal
The uniqueness of the village amidst the rocks
Throughout many centuries, the ancient village of Monsanto has preserved quite intact the charming and graceful architectural features of a unique and virtually unchanged classical village. Monsanto currently covers an area of about 131.76 km² and is home to nearly 1,000 residents.
Overview of the ancient village amidst the stone forest of Portugal - Illustrative Image
It is known that the ancient village of Monsanto was ingeniously constructed by the ancient inhabitants of Portugal, nestled and intertwined among massive boulders, with narrow winding streets snaking through the multi-tiered slopes along the moss-covered stone walls of the Serra da Estrela mountain range. The houses in Monsanto are intricately carved to fit snugly within boulders weighing up to 200 tons or utilize stone for roofs, walls, and leverage the crevices of the rocks to create living spaces inside.
And since its inception, the landscape of Monsanto has been clearly defined, situated atop a mountain peak overlooking the Portuguese countryside with a wide and panoramic view spanning hundreds of kilometers.
Interior space inside houses in Monsanto - Illustrative Image
Within the village, independent tourists can discover some houses built from granite with main entrances designed in the characteristic Manueline architectural style, beautifully carved from stone, unique to Portugal. These houses here astonish visitors with their uniqueness and avant-garde beauty in classical architecture, giving Monsanto village a blend of classical and modern charm.
Interesting things to explore when visiting Monsanto
Visiting Monsanto village during a Portugal tour, you will not only admire the breathtaking scenery stretching across the Serra da Estrela mountain range with its red-tiled houses but also witness firsthand a castle dating back to the Lusitanian era that has survived and the picturesque natural landscape of the Serra da Estrela region. It is known that in the medieval period, this castle played a crucial role as a fortress and endured many attacks from invading enemies. Today, the castle still stands and has become a resilient new settlement for Lusitanian residents and is an unmissable sight for foreign tourists.
The haunting remnants of an ancient church in Monsanto - Illustrative image
Moreover, besides the tourist citadel, visitors can also catch a glimpse of the ruins of a Romanesque-style ancient church, a European medieval architectural style characterized by distinctive half-moon vaults.
It is known that in 1938, the ancient village of Monsanto was voted as the “most authentically Portuguese village” among the existing villages in this country. Since then, all renovation work in the village has been largely restricted to transform Monsanto into a “living museum” of Portuguese culture.
The picturesque scenery along with the fresh air in Monsanto - Illustrative image
However, Monsanto is not a Portuguese tourist destination easily accessible by public transportation. The only way for foreign tourists to reach here is through long walks, enjoying the fresh air, and admiring the panoramic view of the Portuguese plain or casting their gaze towards the beautiful Serra da Estrela mountains where houses are nestled amidst the rocks.
