Monsanto

In Central Portugal, east of Coimbra and close to the Spanish border, lies the town of Monsanto. While it has a rich history of human inhabitation going back to the Early Stone Age, and was named in 1938 "The Most Portuguese Village in Portugal" in a government-sponsored competiton, this place is like no other we've ever seen.

Like so many Portuguese towns, Monsanto has a Moorish castle that for a period after the Reconquista was under the custody of the Knights Templar. It was badly damaged by a 19th century munitions explosion but is still worth the uphill climb to reach it. But the castle is not the star attraction. Monsanto is known for its granite houses that are literally built around, between, and under massive boulders. One of the houses has a nickname: "One tile roof." The pictures below show why this town is well worth a half-day visit.

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