My job as a travel content creator is to research and find insider tips that will make your lives easier when you travel. So when planning our trip to Portugal – I knew it was necessary to go beyond Lisbon and Algarve and search for that gem that can make this trip extra special by seeking some off the beaten path options for you. Marvao was that gem in Portugal – a tiny picturesque village with a castle near Monforte that we fell in love with. We left our hotel after breakfast to avoid the crowds – the drive was about 50 minutes and 20 min of that was a drive up a hill with lots of twist and turns ( at times very scary!) but when you finally arrive you realize that it was all worth it. If you love old-world charm and castles than you need to add this to your itinerary and grab that camera because it felt like we were in a fairytale. The views from the castle are truly breathtaking looking out over wild rocky landscape towards Spain and the Serra da Estrela mountains in Portugal. Besides the castle, Marvão’s architectural heritage includes the Igreja de Santa Maria, a church that has been transformed into the Municipal Museum, the Igreja de Santiago, the Renaissance Capela do Espírito Santo and the Convento de Nossa Senhora da Estrela, lying outside the walls. We spend a total of 4/5 hours just strolling and taking it all in. Marvao is truly special – I hope one day you get to experience it too.
Insider Tips:
The village has four casual restaurants and one bakery so you can def. stay for lunch or early dinner. For those interested in staying here for the night or a few days – check out this beautiful hotel.
We saw families with young kids but I think this is best without kids. In order to take in the views, you have to climb the tiny cobblestone stairs that are very narrow and can be dangerous – I would avoid it with young kids.
