Belmonte

We drove on to another hill-top town, Belmonte, and its beautiful little municipal aire de camping-cars. The next morning we toured the pleasant little town.

Among the many sculptures in Belmonte, this, "honoring our
pastoral origins," I think it said

Belmonte's castle

Chapels nearby

Among other things, Belmonte is noted for
being the birthplace of Pedro Cabral, who
"discovered" Brazil and thus made Portugal
a very wealthy country, for a time; here I am
posing as Cabral

The real Cabral...

View from the castle grounds

Part of some interpretive signage, notably a) the bit on the
left about the castle tour in this region and b) an explanation
of trail signage, which we will need to observe in a week or so

Pretty landscaping all around

And patios

Older buildings

Civic places and spaces

When Spain expelled its Jews in 1492, many came to
Portugal, and Belmonte in particular; there are several
memorials, museums, and so on; not many years later,
however, the Portuguese Inquisition arrived
("Nobody expects the Portuguese Inquisition!"), with
the same results for the Jews as in Spain

Belmonte was notable too for several of its antiques shoppes,
with much interesting stuff

A real Chiparus? 3500E they were asking

Infestation of swallows

Public facilities

Much public space, sculpture

The aire, actually another public park, playground, etc., with
parking for 4 RVs; the facilities included showers, BBQ,
picnic tables, water and sanitation, all just a few minutes' walk
to the town center; and free

Menhir Da Meada

Ten miles north of Castle do Vide is the largest menhir in Iberia, the Menhir da Meada, aka the Menhir da Viagra. Something we had to see.

One-lane but paved roads, and the signage was good

Back out into the megalith-strewn wonderland of Alentaje

Where they use mini-menhirs for fence posts!

And there it is; in a national park, so there is ease of access, a car park, picnic
tables, poubelles...

Even a marker and interpretive signage

To wit...

With me, for scale; it's a little more than 7m; only recently
discovered; and lovingly re-erected

In context

The putative glans bit, in case you're interested

The pavement does not go ever on from here

Marvao: The Town

We have seen our share of hill towns, and I think Marvao may well have been the best. It is interesting, clean, amply explained in signage, not over-run by tourists (just indies) nor trinket shoppes. There are a few cafes and restaurants, a few B&Bs or boutique hotels, but mostly just a town that has the amenities and excels in self-regard. Not a lot of traffic, either, although what there is is well-managed and mostly kept outside the walls.

Several old gates lead into the town

Cruel and unusual punishments occurred here;
executions without the walls

Bridge to property across the alley

Street scene

Bridge to one's rooftop garden across the alley

Portuguese version of a vespasian

Manueline window 

Nice views

Town from the castle

Beautifully manicured public park; note the cork tree has been
de-corked

View of castle from garden

Church converted to municipal museum

Everything's up to date...

A self-regarding place: historical plaques all over

A Manueline door one one of the very few
disused buildings

Futbol field at the school

Parque infantil

Inside the main church

Beautiful private and public landscaping all over

Nice views

A little topiary lining the street

Back door

Bug's-eye view of wildflowers

Another great visit!