5 nights: Schist villages, Marvao, Monsanto or Monsaraz?
Sep 16th, 2017, 02:06 PM
#1
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5 nights: Schist villages, Marvao, Monsanto or Monsaraz?
Hi!
I was wondering whether someone might have some advice or personal experiences/preferences to share with me.
I'm traveling to Portugal in mid October and I'm having some doubts about a section of my itinerary. Just to provide some context, we are a couple, have rented a car, are in our early thirties, are very active when traveling (i.e. e like to hike, walk and explore) and really prefer off the beaten track destinations.
Right after Porto, we had planed to go to Cerdeira (schist village, have read great things) for 2 nights to have a full day to hike between the villages, then 1 night in Marvao and 2 nights in Monsaraz (using it as a base to explore a bit of the area, including Évora, where we are not that interested in spending the night).
I'm having second thoughts (because I'm not familiar with Portugal not know anyone who's been in this area) - should be skip the Schist villages and add a night in Monsanto? Should be do 2 nights in Marvao to explore surroundings instead of Monsaraz? Should we just skip one of this destinations and add an extra night in Porto (we are staying for 3 nights there)? Do you think its fine?
I know this is all extremely subjective, but I would love to hear a bit more from someone who's been to this side of Portugal! Thanks in advance
You've all been very helpful in helping me plan this trip.
I was wondering whether someone might have some advice or personal experiences/preferences to share with me.
I'm traveling to Portugal in mid October and I'm having some doubts about a section of my itinerary. Just to provide some context, we are a couple, have rented a car, are in our early thirties, are very active when traveling (i.e. e like to hike, walk and explore) and really prefer off the beaten track destinations.
Right after Porto, we had planed to go to Cerdeira (schist village, have read great things) for 2 nights to have a full day to hike between the villages, then 1 night in Marvao and 2 nights in Monsaraz (using it as a base to explore a bit of the area, including Évora, where we are not that interested in spending the night).
I'm having second thoughts (because I'm not familiar with Portugal not know anyone who's been in this area) - should be skip the Schist villages and add a night in Monsanto? Should be do 2 nights in Marvao to explore surroundings instead of Monsaraz? Should we just skip one of this destinations and add an extra night in Porto (we are staying for 3 nights there)? Do you think its fine?
I know this is all extremely subjective, but I would love to hear a bit more from someone who's been to this side of Portugal! Thanks in advance
You've all been very helpful in helping me plan this trip.
Sep 16th, 2017, 02:52 PM
#2
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There is not much to do in the villages at night. I would stick with staying somewhere slightly larger and take day trips. Coimbra is only about an hours drive from Cerdeira.
Marvão isn't bad, just very small. I would use Vila Viçosa or Evora as a base to explore Monsaraz and Marvão. You can stay in the Pousada in either Vila Viçosa or Evora. If you want, there is also a Pousada in Marvão (http://tinyurl.com/zdussww).
We'll be back in Evora in late October before heading up to Pinhão in the Alto Douro.
Both of these website belong to Petana, which owns the Pousadas.
www.pousadasportugal.com
www.pousadas.pt/en
Marvão isn't bad, just very small. I would use Vila Viçosa or Evora as a base to explore Monsaraz and Marvão. You can stay in the Pousada in either Vila Viçosa or Evora. If you want, there is also a Pousada in Marvão (http://tinyurl.com/zdussww).
We'll be back in Evora in late October before heading up to Pinhão in the Alto Douro.
Both of these website belong to Petana, which owns the Pousadas.
www.pousadasportugal.com
www.pousadas.pt/en
Sep 16th, 2017, 03:54 PM
#3
We stayed a couple of nights some years ago at the Horta da Moura, a couple of km from Monsaraz. Absolutely wonderful place; we enjoyed driving around the Alentejo immensely. http://hortadamoura.pt/
