Monsaraz Tour
On our tour we’ll talk about the people who built Monsaraz, the various Monuments of the Village and Alentejo’s architecture. Monsaraz has many secrets that are under study by our Historian. Old traditions that are still alive around here and are proof of the village’s authenticity. We’ll talk about daily life and stories of the locals. From Monsaraz we have an amazing view of the Alentejo and of Spain. We’re also going to visit the Museum of the Fresco and the Museum of the Religions.
In Monsaraz we have the evidence of most of the cultures and religions that passed through the Iberian Peninsula. The Village has been a frontier fortification since the Iron Age. Here we have the Medieval Castle surrounded by an immense Bulwark fortification from the 17th century. On our visit to the Medieval Village we’ll be walking along narrow streets of slate surrounded by whitewashed houses with huge chimneys. We're going to see details from various architectural periods and some local traditions. From medieval Gothic granite doors to 19th century Palaces. Beautiful metal work on the balconies and windows. Walls made of thousands of slate stones covered in lichens. In Monsaraz and on the outskirts we have seventeen temples from different religions. Temples built in Prehistory by the Megalithism Culture and Sacred Rocks from Animism. Temples built in the Middle Ages by the Christian Knights Templar, Qubbas from Islam and a Jewish Quarter. From Monsaraz we can see hundreds of Km of a landscape humanized since 6000 years ago. Nearby we have the Guadiana River that divides Portugal and Spain. We are in the borderlands, a place of smuggling, war and anarchy. From Monsaraz we can also see the largest artificial lake in Western Europe. The Alqueva Dam reservoir is 80 km in length and has 250 square Km of water. The reservoir forced the reconstruction of an entire village and originated an immense archaeological project.
At the end of the tour we can visit several stores selling traditional products. From blankets made on horizontal wooden looms to local ceramics and other regional products.
