The castle
On the crag's edge.
Jules Verne Times Two — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jules Verne Times Two — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jules Verne Times Two — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jules Verne Times Two — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL — CC BY-SA 2.0
Marvão is a small walled town on a quartzite crag in the Serra de São Mamede, in Portalegre District in eastern Portugal near the Spanish border. It lies about 12 km in a straight line from the town of Portalegre. Its name comes from Ibn Marwan, who built its castle in the 9th century, probably over an older Roman watchtower. The castle and walled town were strengthened over the centuries. The Nobel-winning writer José Saramago wrote that from the top of its keep one can see «the entire land», and it features in the book «1,000 Places to See Before You Die». The stone castle clings to the edge of the high crag, its walls hanging over sheer drops. Inside, steep cobbled lanes are lined with white houses with stone-framed doors and windows, and from small watchtowers the view sweeps across the Alentejo plains to Spain. The town is small enough to walk in a few hours. The wind is strong on the walls, and the light is loveliest at sunset.
On the crag's edge.
Steep and cobbled.
Wide views.
Marvão, Portalegre District, Portugal
At sunset.
A few hours.