Portugal has many beautiful old villages, but there is a very special network in Central Portugal called Aldeias Históricas de Portugal.
It brings together 12 historic places, many of them shaped by centuries of conflicts, border defence and life around castles and fortified settlements. Their location was particularly important in the defence of Portuguese territory, which helps explain why castles, walls and fortifications are such a strong part of what you see today.
So, which are the 12?
Almeida, Belmonte, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Novo, Castelo Rodrigo, Idanha a Velha, Linhares da Beira, Marialva, Monsanto, Piódão, Sortelha and Trancoso.
They are all worth discovering, but if you are visiting this part of Portugal for the first time, these are 5 I particularly recommend:
Monsanto
Probably the most unusual of the 12. Houses were built between and around enormous granite boulders, to the point where sometimes it is difficult to tell where the house ends and the rock begins.
Piódão
Completely different from Monsanto. Piódão sits on the slopes of Serra do Açor and is known for its schist houses, narrow streets and distinctive blue doors and windows.
Sortelha
One of my favourites if you want that medieval feeling. The old village sits at around 760 metres above sea level, surrounded by granite and dominated by its castle and walls.
Almeida
This one is very different. Seen from above, its defensive walls form an impressive 12 pointed star. The fortress was built during the 17th and 18th centuries in a strategically important position close to the Spanish border.
Castelo Rodrigo
A small fortified village where you can still explore the ruins of its old palace and castle while looking across the surrounding landscape.
But I wouldn't treat these five as a ranking.
Part of the fun is that the 12 are quite different from each other. Together they are also a great reason to leave the usual Lisbon, Porto and Algarve itinerary and explore the interior of Portugal.
How many of the 12 have you visited?
📸 Photo by ALDEIAS HISTÓRICAS DE PORTUGAL de Portugal. If you want to discover more about these villages and support the project, make sure to follow their page on Facebook.
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