Or better yet, somewhere picturesque.

In various Portuguese districts there are picturesque small villages that reflect the Portuguese culture and reality. From the architecture to the culture, these villages stand out for the combination of nature and human architecture.

Piodão

Nestled in the Serra do Açor mountains, this schist village maintains traces that point to when it was first built. The brown houses set into the side of the mountain, give the village a fairy tale atmosphere, especially at night when all the little houses seem to glow. While all the houses are dark coloured, Piodão’s church is white and blue, however, it blends well with the rest of the architecture, providing the church with a special highlight.

Piodão's isolation has allowed it to keep its medieval atmosphere, being the perfect postcard to send to the family during Christmas. With amazing walking trails, the beautiful landscapes and historic charm turn Piodão into a must visit destination, when exploring Portuguese picturesque villages.

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Montesinho

Montesinho is a small village located in the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park, set in the Trás-os-Montes region, in the Bragança district. The park has ecologically varied areas, with rivers, and forests with the presence of animals such as deer and wild boar.

The stone houses and narrow streets are the perfect feature to showcase this serene village. Staying in Montesinho will mean that people will be connected, listening to birds, for example, as there are more than 160 different bird species in the natural park.

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Linhares da Beira

Linhares da Beira, located in the Guarda district, is one of the oldest villages in Portugal, and it is located in Serra da Estrela. Although it has more modern architecture, when compared to the previously mentioned location, Linhares da Beira has preserved a castle, that still invokes the history of the village. The castle is behind the houses that were constructed in a way that makes the village look very picturesque when viewing it from above.

Linhares da Beira is one of the 12 villages that, in 1991, was included in the list of Historical Villages of Portugal.

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Cabeça

Cabeça is a small village in the Serra da Estrela mountains, also in the Guarda district is particularly appealing during the Christmas season. Known as the Christmas Village, Cabeça, during the festive season, will be decorated with manufactured ornaments.

Cabeça was the first village to adopt eco-friendly lighting in the streets, and the illuminations used during the Christmas season are made out of LED’s, promoting sustainability in a location that is still surrounded by nature. Nestled in the middle of a valley, this village promises to give its visitors an amazing, picturesque experience.


Praia do Carvoeiro

Although not located in a rural area, the village of Carvoeiro, in the Algarve, must be named as a picturesque village. Often called Portugal’s Santorini, the Carvoeiro rocky cliffs, with white houses that go up and down the slopes that surround the beach, clearly make this village picturesque.

With its amazing coastline, with the opportunity to enjoy experiences on boat trips, Carvoeiro is the perfect place to visit during summer, or any other season as the cafés and great bars to have a drink at night, are open all year round. The walking trails in Carvoeiro, whether in Algar Seco, or even the Seven Hanging Valleys, allow visitors to learn how this village combines rurality with its amazing coastline.

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Be picturesque

From Carvoeiro to Piodão, Montesinho, Linhares da Beira, and Cabeça, each village adds its character to the varied landscape of Portugal. Each of these villages will show travellers a different side of Portugal, even those that are more popular destinations, where history, nature, and local traditions come together. These villages unveil for those who travel in search of quieter moments and authenticity, a varied Portugal in its beauty and culture, which is well worth exploring.

Author

Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos