Monsanto Travel Guide

 solopes Says:  Close to the castle there's a ruined chapel. It was called St. Miguel chapel, and was built in Romanic style at the end of the 12th century. The chapel is surrounded by a few graves carved in the rocks. 

 solopes Says:  Integrated with "Espírito Santo" chapel, one of the doors got the chapel's name, also called, I don't know why, St. Sebastian arch. The chapel is from the 16th century, but the arch must be older, probably already with the saint's name. 

 solopes Says:  If you feel in good condition you may accept the challenge of climbing to the castle. It has nothing particularly relevant, but it obliges to walk along all the village, and reaching the top, it rewards you with some awesome sights. Someone said that Monsanto is the most... 

 solopes Says:  Also called the clock tower, for obvious reasons, this is the tallest building in the village, providing good views to those who don't risk the hard climbing to the castle. Atop of this 14th century tower, a silvery clock was the official prize for "the most Portuguese... 

 berenices Says:  Just outside the castle wall, on the other route that goes back down to the village, are several megalithic graves. They look quite impressive as several seem to have been dug or shaped out of a single huge block of stone. We were quite surprised to see these structures, as... 

 Bwana_Brown Says:  After getting settled into the hotel and changing to appropriate dinner clothes, we walked the nearby streets of Castelo Branco to see what we could find. It was about 8 PM but the pickings seemed slim - most places were almost empty and had big TVs blaring away. As a... 

 easyoar Says:  Monsanto is pretty small, and parking is pretty difficult, and the roads are very very narrow and have very tight bends. To look around the town, the only way to do it is to park wherever you can find a space, and then get out and walk.If you want to go up to the castle, you... 

 Martin_S. Says:  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... 

 Martin_S. Says:  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... 

 Martin_S. Says:  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... 

 Martin_S. Says:  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 

 Martin_S. Says:  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. The small twisting and winding streets of... 

 Martin_S. Says:  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". The vistas from the lookout and the blending of the... 

 solopes Says:  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?