Monsanto

Located in Portugal’s undulating Beira Baixa countryside just 25km from the Spanish border, the ancient Village of Monsanto rises high above a valley on the slope of a steep hill. Here the narrow cobblestone streets are carved into the rocky landscape and the houses are squeezed on, between and under massive granite boulders.

In its otherworldly setting, where stones serve as roofs and walls for the village’s roughly 800 residents, Monsanto has changed little since it was first carved from stone some 500 years ago. Due to its unique and traditional architecture, Monsanto was voted “The most Portuguese village” in a 1938 National contest, and today is listed as one of the 12 official “Historical Villages of Portugal”.