Marvão, Medieval town in Alto Alentejo, Portugal
Marvão is a medieval municipality at 865 meters elevation in Alto Alentejo, where white stone houses with red tile roofs sit within granite walls. The castle overlooks the settlement, while the parish church of Santa Maria stands at the center and preserves artworks from earlier centuries.
The settlement was founded in the 9th century when Ibn Marwan established a defensive position that later became a Christian fortress in 1166. This transformation marked the shift from Islamic to Christian Portugal.
The church of Santa Maria holds religious artworks that reflect the faith of earlier generations. The low bell tower and narrow streets reveal how this place served as a spiritual center for the region.
The settlement sits on a hilltop with steep access roads and narrow paved streets best explored on foot. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and allow time for walking through this compact, elevated area.
The paved streets feature letterboxes built directly into the walls of residential buildings, a distinctive detail throughout the settlement. This practical and aesthetic solution shows how residents use the limited space of the hilltop efficiently.
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