Monsaraz - a village of schist and whitewash, from the time of the Knights Templar - ready to welcome those who dare to take a stroll there

Good evening, Hivers!

Today I come here to share with you a visit I made to one of the most emblematic villages of my Portugal. I'm going to share with you photos of the famous Alentejo village of Monsaraz. Located on top of a hill, overlooking a fantastic view of the Guadiana River, and looking out over the border with Spain, is this well known village. Built mostly of lime and schist, built in medieval times, we find one of the oldest towns in Portugal.

When we get close to the village, we are invited to leave the car in one of the many free parking lots that can be found outside the walls. A true calling card extends to us, when on foot we are led to discover the black schist streets, some of them narrow, flanked by proudly white houses of simple but sturdy architecture.

On this day, it was a very hot day for this time of year. For the beginning of May, we got about 35ºC! So you can imagine that all the shadows that I caught during my incursion were well taken advantage of. The houses that flank the path, some of them converted into small stores, invite the passers-by to enter and discover, or rediscover. The handicrafts, from ceramics, with ornate plates and hand painted with bright colors and Moorish and floral patterns, to lace, or even blankets and tapestry very typical of this region.

Here even a simple doorknob is a unique and interesting piece. Have you noticed this animal (is it a bear, or a dog? Most probably a dog, considering the animals around here).

Arriving at the central square, after passing through the Gothic Arch of one of the 4 entrances in the wall that surrounds the village, we take the view to the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Lagoa. I didn't have the opportunity to visit the church, as it was not open for visits, as it would have felt really good to catch a glimpse of the "cold" that would surely be inside.

From the top of one of the walls of the Castle of Monsaraz (which was built by D Dinis in the 14th century), we have a privileged view of the Alqueva Dam. The mirror of water that breaks through the fields to extend the view, naturally beautifies the region, being the largest artificial reservoir of water in Western Europe, also known as the Great Lake.

On the way back to the car, I still had the opportunity to capture a fantastic, iron-forged window with two hearts, most likely a window that has served for so many, many couples to date at night...

I hope you have enjoyed my post about the picturesque town of Monsaraz, and the hospitable people who live and work there.

Bem Hajam 🍀

Photographic edition with PhotoScape X