Monsanto Favorites

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Favorite thing: The winding paths (streets) of Monsanto are winding for a reason...as you pass by, and UNDER some of the enormous house sized (or larger) boulders strewn around Monsanto you will know why. The people of this village built the entire village in, under, over and around the boulders found here, none of this level and clear ground before construction. No, not here.
If there is a boulder in your plot of ground, well just build around it.

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Favorite thing: The beautiful blending in of the stone houses here on the Monsanto mountain with the surrounding boulders is fantastic. Seldom have I seen this blend done so well. I have to ask myself if it is intentional, and I believe it is not, just a "natural" way to build when you take your building material from the same place you are building on.

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Favorite thing: A few of the things seen around the streets of Monsanto, like the "Gruta" or grotto where Zohara is waiting at the entrance for me. It was pitch black inside even though there was a sign as you can see above the entrance portal. The only time I saw what I was photographing was when I saw the photo at home.
Then we have Zohara standing in one of the main intersections of main pathways, no cars can get this high up in Monsanto.

Fondest memory: As always, the views over the village rooftops.

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Favorite thing: For some reason I enjoy both looking at and photographing the red tiled rooftops of village or town...especially when the streets are crazy like here in Monsanto, no two go in the same direction which creates a mosaic pattern of rooftops that is wonderful

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Favorite thing: As mentioned in the introduction, the streets of Monsanto are STEEP, you will find that even if you are in good shape that you will exert yourself here. Remember to bring water or stop in at one of the restaurants to keep hydrated.

Fondest memory: The small twisting and winding streets of Monsanto bring to mind the maze of the Minotaur, but here you can't get lost because if you do, just go down...
You can and will find small pools of cooler shade, some from small trees apparently sprouting out of pure stone, or from some of the house sized boulders themselves.

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Favorite thing: I have attached the "mountain climbing" activity to Monsanto because anyone who cannot climb a small mountain should not attempt Monsanto. It seems as if every street is competing with its neighbours as "the steepest".

Fondest memory: The vistas from the lookout and the blending of the stone homes within the surrounding nature.

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Favorite thing: It's a difficult compromise, to preserve the traditional look of the villages, and to give locals some comfort. Nowhere I noticed a so remarkable presence id electric wires and TV antennas as in Monsanto. Couldn't be otherwise?

Favorite thing: the most portuguese village in portugal as, for propaganda reasons, the 1974's sat down political regime classified this wonderfull MONSANTO. no reasons for nowadays we disregard such title. obviously we have to agree with that. and if yu go there yu'll know why.