Visit Monsanto in Portugal | Location, things to do

Monsanto is one of Portugal’s 12 official historic villages, and one of my favorites. It is also considered to be the most Portuguese village in Portugal, a title that almost in itself invites you to visit. What to see in Monsanto? I would highlight the extraordinary viewpoints and the houses built between the granite cliffs that merge with the gigantic rocks.

Speaking a little about the history of the region, it is a very old place, as traces of human presence have been found since the Paleolithic period. Monsanto was conquered from the Moors by the first king of Portugal in 1165, who soon after donated the village to the Knights Templar, who in turn had the castle built.

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Where is Monsanto located, in Portugal?

Monsanto is located in the district of Castelo Branco, near Serra da Estrela. It is part of the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova.

I recommend getting a car to visit Monsanto and other historic villages in the region. Do it with discover cars, which allows you to search and compare various options until you find the best deal. Public transport options are very limited.

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Curiosities to know before visiting Monsanto

Several invaders tried to lay siege to Monsanto, but to no avail, because from the top of the hill the Portuguese defense was unbeatable. In fact, one of the annual events in Monsanto that deserves to be highlighted is the Festival of Santa Cruz, in honor of the victories of the inhabitants of Monsanto against the various attacks to which they were subjected. Traditions at this festival include:

The flowering jug that is thrown from the top of the mountains to symbolize the calf that, according to legend, was thrown from there to show the enemy troops that they had enough food and abundance to withstand any siege.
And the “marafonas” dolls, which were made and placed on the castle battlements to give the invaders the idea that the people were well and happy, causing them to lose morale and raise the siege.

One of the alleys in the village of Monsanto

When to visit Monsanto?

I would recommend the Santa Cruz Festival, mentioned earlier, which takes place at the beginning of May. However, don’t forget the cherry season (flower and fruit), given its proximity to Fundão. In reality, any time of year is a good time to visit the Historical Villages of Portugal, but expect a lot of heat in summer and some cold in winter.

Things to do in Monsanto | Portugal

But enough curiosities and historical details, and let’s get down to business! Things to do in Monsanto? What are the main highlights and tourist attractions? See below what I recommend.

1. Climb up to Monsanto Castle

You have to climb up to the Castle of Monsanto, which stands at an altitude of 758 meters. The ascent is made on foot and will leave the less prepared breathless. But you can’t miss the view from the top, and several other attractions up there:

The ruins of the Chapel of São João. It was still functioning as a parish church in the 18th century.
The ruins of the Church of São Miguel, which dates back to the end of the 12th century.
The Castle Well, wrongly known as the Cistern. In medieval times it was the main water supply inside the fortress.
The Church of Santa Maria do Castelo, from the 18th century.
Peão Tower, deliberately destroyed by the town at the end of the Middle Ages because it was considered a threat to the castle itself in the event of a siege.

2. Enjoy the great view from the village of Monsanto

The view from the top of Monsanto Castle is the most extraordinary of all, but you don’t need to go up there to have access to fabulous viewpoints. For me, visiting Monsanto means having access to the best viewpoints of all the 12 historic villages in Portugal, and I’ll give you examples of that in the pictures below:

Viewpoint from Monsanto, in Central Portugal

3. Admire the pigsties in the village of Monsanto (known as Furdas by the locals)

Pigsties or Furdas in the village of Monsanto

4. Marvel at the boulder houses when you visit Monsanto

One of the Boulder Houses in the village of Monsanto

Boulder Houses in the village of Monsanto

5. Explore the Historic Center of Monsanto

Visit the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, which dates back to the 17th century and has a small bell tower. It was part of the village wall, which arose after the 7 Years’ War, and surrounded the town, linking it to the castle.
Visit the Manueline-style Chapel of Santo António.
Discover to the so-called Penedos Juntos and Penedo do Pé Calvo (famous boulders in Monsanto).
Discover the various fountains in the village of Monsanto, namely the ones called: Chafariz da Fonte Nova, Chafariz do Meio, Chafariz Mono and Fonte Ferreiro.
Visit the Mother Church of São Salvador.
Visit the Tower of Lucano, a symbol of Monsanto, not forgetting the replica of the silver rooster.
Don’t forget the Monsanto Pillory.
Also visit the noblest houses, such as the Solar dos Priores de Monsanto, Solar dos Pinheiros or Solar do Marquês da Graciosa.

6. Visit Penha Garcia and Termas de Monfortinho

Around the village of Monsanto, there are other historic villages in Portugal to discover. Here are some of the nearest attractions you can’t miss when visiting Monsanto and the surrounding region:

Visit Penha Garcia Castle, whose origins are in doubt. Some say it was built by the Templars on top of an ancient Roman fortification, but others claim that it was built by King Sancho I and then donated to the Order of Santiago, and only later to the Templars by King Dinis.
Visit the Mother Church of Penha Garcia. It dates back to the 13th century and the image inside of Senhora do Leite, dating from the 15th century, stands out.
Enjoy the view of the Penha Garcia Reservoir.
Relax at Pego River Beach.
Discover the watermills of Penha Garcia.
Take the Fossils Route, the most unmissable activity to do in Penha Garcia, which, as well as taking you to the points already mentioned, will lead you to find the fossils of the Penha Garcia Ichnological Park, one of the main geosites of the Naturtejo Geopark recognized by UNESCO. The fossils are located on the cliffs of the Ponsul River valley and date back some 480 million years.
Spend a few days recovering your batteries at Termas de Monfortinho.

Fun fact: There is a legend related to Penha Garcia Castle and Monsanto. Supposedly, a former Mayor of Penha Garcia Castle still wanders around the castle towers, having kidnapped the daughter of the Governor of Monsanto in the past, and suffered the appropriate punishment for it.

Accommodation tips to visit Monsanto

I’ve already given you my suggestions and tips on what to see in Monsanto, Penha Garcia and the surrounding area. Now I’ll give you some tips on accommodation:

Gastronomy and restaurants in Monsanto

As far as gastronomy is concerned, I’m going to summarize the main highlights of Portugal’s historic villages, and not just Monsanto.

To eat, it’s best to opt for lamb or kid, or even hare or partridge. You’ll find them cooked in a variety of ways: stewed, braised or roasted. There’s also good bacalhau à lagareiro, or excellent Migas de Peixe.

Desserts include rice pudding, curd cheese, the typical borrachões, corn porridge and tigelada. Of course, in villages further north of Monsanto, such as Castelo Rodrigo, the almond is queen.

For a restaurant to eat in, my recommendation is Adega Típica O Cruzeiro.

Travel Insurance + Car Rental

As I mentioned previously in this article, a car makes the whole trip easier and gives you the flexibility to visit more historic villages in the region. Rent a car with Discover Cars if you don’t have your own.

I also recommend that you take out travel insurance with World Nomads to get to know Portugal and specifically this region. Stay safe!

Map with things to do in Monsanto and in the Historic Villages of Portugal

Finally, I’ll leave you with the link to the map with all the sights I mentioned earlier in this article. I hope it’s useful and helps you have an even more fantastic trip through the central interior of Portugal. 😉

Have a nice trip in my country!