12 HISTORIC VILLAGES OF CENTRAL PORTUGAL

The young river Zêzere flows through the Cova da Beira valley. Overlooking is the small town of Belmonte. Often neglected by tourists and tourist guides, Belmonte is overflowing with charm, tradition and history. Belmonte's position on the eastern slopes of the Serra da Estrela mountain is the source of the town's name "Bella Monte, or beautiful hill". The skeleton of a 13th-century castle occupies Belmonte's highest point, a reminder that things were not always so sleepy and peaceful here.

Below the southern end of the castle walls, within the maze of narrow streets, is the Jewish Quarter. Belmonte was traditionally home to the largest community of Jews on the whole Iberian peninsular and the oldest synagogue dating back to the 13th century. The old town is a pleasure to walk around, the narrow streets, Beira-style stone houses and old-worldly charm. Points of interest are signposted with carved wooden plaques. At the heart of the old town is the Largo do Pelourinho square dominated on one side by the 15th-century old town hall. Belmonte was included in Portugal's Historic Villages (Aldeias Históricas de Portugal) programme in 2003. They intend to restore, rehabilitate and promote a chosen group of ancient villages/human settlements within the Beiras region.

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Perched on the Serra da Gardunha hillside is the time-worn village of Castelo Novo which dates back to the early days of Portugal's independence. The lands around the villages were gifted to the Templar Knights to man the castle and defend the area from the Moors, who were eager to reconquer the region. The village sprung up around the perimeter of the castle walls and its ancient serpentine streets meander their way upwards. Hidden away within the labyrinth of medieval streets are charming small squares, one of which, the Largo da Bica, is where the Town Hall resides and has several curious aspects, most particularly an 18th-century Baroque fountain. In the centre of the square is an impressive pillory (Pelourinho). Find a hotel deal in Castelo Novo ►

This small picturesque village contains an extraordinary cluster of ruins of great archaeological importance. The foundations of Idanha-a-Velha lie over a Roman City (1st century BC). Vestiges from Roman times still exist, the remains of a temple sit under the Templar's Tower and at the nearby river the Roman bridge is still in use. King Afonso III of León took the Idanha-a-Velha from the moors and it was inaugurated into the County of Portugal (Condado Portucalense). When Portugal's first King came to the area the village was awarded to the Knights Templar.

Today Idanha-a-Velha still bears witness to the turbulent history the village endured. The ramparts, with their small towers and gatehouse, encompass the medieval settlement inside. The Sé or Cathedral dates from the Visigothic period and outside stands the ruins of the bishop’s palace and an even earlier Roman house. Here too is a restored olive-oil press that uses two huge tree trunks.

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Take a step back in time and visit this attractive Beira town. Marialva is perched on a summit over the remains of a settlement that pre-dates Roman occupancy. Successive peoples settled here, the Visigoths and the Arabs, before falling into the hands of Christian armies in 1063. Following Portugal's independence, the fortifications were rebuilt and strengthened. The village of Marialva grew around the castle and attained wealth and importance in the region. More peaceful times saw a decline in the town and modern munitions made the Castle irrelevant. Much of the medieval village, buildings and streets, still exist in varying states of preservation. Along with visiting the castle and the ruins of the old ramparts, look out for the São Tiago Church, Nossa Senhora dos Passos Chapel, the court, the prison and the Roman city of Civitas Aravorum. Find a hotel deal in Marialva ►

Piódão is ensconced on the slopes of the Serra do Açor mountain range and its jumble of tightly packed houses blending into the landscape. The main building material is the distinctive schist that makes up the bedrock in the region. One striking feature of each building is blue-coloured doors and window frames. According to local legend, blue coloured gloss paint was the only item available in the village store. One structure does stand out however, the parish church dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception, which is whitewashed and supported by some rather peculiar cylindrical buttresses. It was built and paid for by the residents of Piódão in the early 19th century.

The village's isolation has helped to preserve much of the original age-old features, as well as being the perfect hide-away for outlaws fleeing the authorities. Its believed that one of the murderers of D. Inês de Castro went into hiding here, thus escaping the wrath of D. Pedro I (14th century). Today Piódão serves as a base camp for hikers keen to explore the rugged beauty of the Serra do Açor. Find a hotel deal in Piódão ►

Perched upon its vantage point on a plateau 900 metres high, the pretty town of Trancoso has stood sentinel over the surrounding landscape for millennia. Its strategic location has been exploited by all the various peoples who have occupied this area. The history of Trancoso mirrors that of Portugal itself. Much of the medieval town is preserved behind 13th-century ramparts encompassing a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets lined with stone houses, shady squares, old churches, defence towers and a castle with 10th-century origins. It was in Trancoso Dom Dinis married his 12-year-old bride, Isabel of Aragon, in 1282. He later gave her the town as a gift.

Trancoso's castle has occupied the high ground on the northeast end of town since the 10th century and was the focus of many disputes between Christian and Muslim armies during the Reconquista, changing hands many times. In 1139 it was peminately conquered by Afonso Henriques. Within the courtyard there's a cistern, a well and the ruins of an old 16th-century chapel.

The existing outer walls date from between 1248 and 1325 AD. There are three main entrances though the bulwarks; the Portas d'el Rei, Portas do Prado and Porta do Carvalho, plus two secondary gates; Porta da Traição and Olhinho do Sol. The Portas d'El Rei and Portas do Prado gates are flanked by two mighty towers. Despite some demolition that occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries, most of the perimeter walls are well preserved. In 1921 Trancoso was classified as a National Monument.

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