Around the World: Castelo Mendo
I often say, Portugal was a travel I love to remember since it was all a discovery. We avoided the most touristic places to search the abandoned medieval castles or the small farm village. Like Castelo Mendo: it's nothing more than a bunch of houses atop a small hill. It's not easy to reach, at least not 10 years ago, since it's not even signed as exit from the main street. When we arrived there, we realized that it was all encircled by walls and our car didn't pass through the only entrance. So we left the car outside and walked for the deserted narrow streets of the village. We heard people inside the houses but no one was outside. After our visit we returned to the car and had a surprise: a group of men was there, blocking our car; we feared the worst to then realize that they wanted only to chat, one of them was Italian and it was years he didn't have the chance to speak with fellow Italians and he recognized our language while we were walking in front of his house.
by Elisa, Castelo Mendo, Portugal, 2002
http://www.elisarolle.com/travel/2002Portogallo.htm
Most of the castles in the border region of Centro are classified as national monuments. These stone fortresses date back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. Castles or parts of castles still stand at Alfaiates, Sortelha, Vilar Maior, Sabugal, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Bom, Castelo Rodrigo, Penamacor, Monsanto, Pinhel and Almeida. A 20-castle route has been delineated by the Portugal government (see www.visitportugal.com). Sortelha, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Rodrigo and the fortified town of Almeida are considered gems among them all. (From Wikipedia)
by Elisa, Castelo Mendo, Portugal, 2002
http://www.elisarolle.com/travel/2002Portogallo.htm
Most of the castles in the border region of Centro are classified as national monuments. These stone fortresses date back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. Castles or parts of castles still stand at Alfaiates, Sortelha, Vilar Maior, Sabugal, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Bom, Castelo Rodrigo, Penamacor, Monsanto, Pinhel and Almeida. A 20-castle route has been delineated by the Portugal government (see www.visitportugal.com). Sortelha, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Rodrigo and the fortified town of Almeida are considered gems among them all. (From Wikipedia)