The best road cycling routes around Aldeia De João Pires

Nice bakery full of local breads, on typical village of Beira Baixa. There's also a small grocery shop.

The history of Meimoa is revealed through studies and excavations, which link its name to ancient "mammoas" or the Latin mammula, protohistoric burial structures, half-buried and rounded in appearance. Today, the village combines heritage and leisure: the Roman-Philippine bridge, the village's calling card, and a riverside area popular in the summer keep its identity alive.

On the banks of the river that gives it its name, Meimoa River Beach is an invitation to relax. Between shaded lawns, a natural pool, and futsal and beach soccer fields, there's plenty of space to have fun or simply relax. The bar with a terrace completes the perfect setting for cooling off on hot summer days.

Penamacor, once one of the most imposing border fortresses, still bears traces of its military importance. The medieval castle, classified as a National Monument, stands as a testament to the ancient defensive line of Beira. Amidst narrow streets and walls, memories of the Jewish quarter, a refuge for Jews expelled from Spain in 1492, also emerge. In this context, Penamacor is above all the birthplace of António Ribeiro Sanches, a physician, philosopher, and medical reformer who served Catherine of Russia.

Monsanto, the "Most Portuguese Village in Portugal," rises on the steep Cabeço de Monsanto, where houses are hidden among giant boulders, creating a unique setting. Between Templar walls, castle ruins, and endless vistas, history breathes in every stone—from the Lusitanians to the Romans, from the Moors to the kings who granted it charters. Today, visitors discover a vibrant village, marked by traditions like the marafonas (a traditional festival) and the flavors of the mountains: goat stew, lamb with mint, and carolo sweets. A tourist icon and the setting of legends, Monsanto is more than a place; it's an unforgettable experience.

Proença-a-Velha was born with the nation itself, linked to the repopulation promoted by King Afonso Henriques and, later, to the Templar charter of 1218. A fertile land with vast olive groves, its greatest treasure is olive oil, celebrated at the Olive Oil Museum and the Olive Oil and Smoked Meat Festival. But the tradition doesn't stop there: Proença-a-Velha is also the capital of soups, where every year over a hundred recipes warm bodies and souls at the Traditional Soup Festival.

Monsanto is a medieval village that is located in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, District of Castelo Branco, Portugal. It is located in eastern Portugal, not far from the border with Spain, giving it a strategic location in medieval times. A Knights Templar fortress was constructed on the highest point of the town, but this was destroyed in an explosion in the 19th century. In 1938, Monsanto was given the distinction of being “the most Portuguese village of Portugal,” during a government sponsored competition. Monsanto is famous for its boulders. The first settlers built small houses on the hilltop, wedging them between and under the boulders that were far too heavy to be moved. These small stone houses remain, creating one of Portugal’s most unique and charming towns to visit. Monsanto is also a filming location for Season 1 of the HBO House of the Dragon series.

A serene and relaxing place. A good place to cool off in the summer.