Marvao Alentejo

The splendid site and 360-degree panorama alone would be reason enough to visit the medieval mountaintop village of Marvão, but the town itself (a candidate for the World Heritage list), is one of Portugal's most spectacular fortified villages.

Typical Marvão street The greatest attraction is the unspoiled medieval atmosphere in its steep and narrow lanes with immaculately whitewashed houses, leading to a magnificent 13th century castle rising from the rock. It contains a huge water cistern and nearby is a 13th century church with a small but interesting museum of archeological finds and local artifacts.

There is an atmospheric medieval Judiaria, or Jewish Quarter, where time seems to have stood still, with cobbled streets and whitewashed houses Castelo de Vide's ancient Jewish Quarter (most of them with Gothic doorways and potted plants on the doorsteps). Here is also the oldest synagogue in the country, although all that remains is one modest little room.
In a pretty little square below the Jewish Quarter is a covered Renaissance fountain with a pyramid roof supported by six marble columns, and a central urn carved with figures of boys. The nearby spa allegedly cures a variety of disorders from diabetes to blood pressure problems.

From the Judiaria it's a short climb to the 14th century castle that looks down on the town. Inside the walls is a medieval quarter that preserves an ancient atmosphere.