The Medieval Village of Monsaraz, Portugal
The tiny medieval village of Monsaraz, in the Alentejo region of Portugal, was a definite favorite on my trip there. I think I could say it was my favorite place I visited in Portugal! Sitting high on a hill with pedestrian only streets, it has all the charm you could hope for. My visit there was part of a group tour that included Evora - another fantastic spot - and a wine tasting at the Ervidiera Wine Shop. Come along and visit this beautiful, and small, Portuguese village!
Monsaraz is a medieval walled village, known in Portugal as a "monument"village. There is a town square, two churches, a couple of restaurants and a few accommodations along with houses (I find it amazing that people actually live here - it seems like a movie set and not real life) There are no main attractions, except for possibly the Monsaraz Castle, but your time is well spent walking the narrow cobblestone streets and taking in the scenery. I couldn't stop taking photos - it was just so picturesque!
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| The main gate that we entered through |
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| Our lunch spot- not part of the tour |
Inside the walls is Monsaraz Castle, build by King Dinis in the 14th century. Once its military functions stopped, it became a bullfighting ring. Now it serves as a National Monument with fantastic views of the Alqueva Dam and Lake - the largest artificial lake in Europe.
As I mentioned, my visit there was as part of a group tour that included a wine tasting at the Ervidiera Wine Shop. The vineyard is outside of town but the Wine Shop is in the old school. Our host was in the right profession as he truly loved Ervidiera Wine, talking about it and Monsaraz. It was a very enjoyable stop and I recommend a stop here if you are in the Alentejo area.
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| Our host |
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| Things on the wall from the old school There aren't a lot of things to do here - no Eiffel Tower or London Bridge - but it was a very easy, quiet and relaxing spot to visit. I'm so glad it was part of our tour! |
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