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  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • Our Adventures
    • Our Trip to New Zealand! 1/2020 - ??/2021 >
      • Whangarei, NZ
    • The Places We Saw! 8/2018 - 8/2019
    • The Places We've Been! 9/2002 - 10/2017

Soajo, Portugal

Portugal has intrigued us for quite a long time. If we had had more time when we were in Spain in 2013, we would have taken a side trip across the border. So when we decided on our more extensive travels, Portugal was high on the list of must-see countries. But where? Northern Portugal is festooned with parks and gorgeous mountains, while the middle of the country has attractive cities like Lisbon and Oporto. In the south, the Algarve with its beaches and Mediterranean feel was equally compelling. However, Schengen visa requirements placed some time limits on us; we'd already spent nearly a month in Iceland, which meant we had a bit over two months to explore Portugal. We had to make some sacrifices.

So, for this part of our journey, we decided to get a taste of northern Portugal, then move on to Coimbra. We'll talk about Coimbra in the next section, but for now let's focus on the little town of Soajo (pronounced "So a' zhu", in Portuguese), in the northern Portugal mountains.

Soajo resides in the Parque Nacional Peneda-Geres, in northern Portugal. It's one of several tiny towns perched on the heights north of Oporto, right on the Portuguese border with Spain. It subsists in large part on small farms, viticulture, and tourism. It's a village of quaint houses, narrow streets winding up and down steep hills, a church that dominates the center of town, and sweeping vistas of the surrounding countryside. It's a beautiful place to hike and commune with nature.
Top Photos --
​For a quick overview:
Soajo rests on the slopes of the Serra do Soajo -- Soajo Mountain -- at an altitude of 964 feet. The village boasts just under 1,000 inhabitants.
Our home was a totally off the grid stone cabin about a mile out of Soajo. Powered by solar panels, heated with a large fireplace, with its own well and septic. There's a pretty little brook below the patio.
To manage growing crops on the steep slopes of the Serra, farmers make use of terracing.
Soajo is famous for its stone granaries, called "Espigueiros", or spikes, for their spindly legs.
Many of these granaries have been in constant use since the late 1700's, protecting the town's crops from varmints.
Gallery - For the whole story
Soajo rests on the slopes of the Serra do Soajo -- Soajo Mountain -- at an altitude of 964 feet. The village boasts just under 1,000 inhabitants.
The lovely green mountainsides are complemented by the red roofs and white walls of the houses. It's a beautiful place; we had several Portuguese people we met who all said this was the most beautiful area in Portugal.
Attractions include the town pillory, which got a lot of action in previous centuries, but now basks primarily in its glory as a National Monument.
Soajo is famous for its stone granaries, called "Espigueiros", or spikes, for their spindly legs.
This style is common throughout the Iberian peninsula. In Spain they're called "Horreos".
Many of these granaries have been in constant use since the late 1700's, protecting the town's crops from varmints.
The village adorns the slopes of the Serra do Soajo -- Soajo Mountain -- in the Peneda-Geres National Park.
The village cemetery is a fine place to absorb the serenity and reverence of this lovely village.
Each resting place reflects the love and respect of the living for their dear departed.
Despite its size, Soajo boasts a few very good restaurants. We ate well!
Our home was a totally off the grid stone cabin about a mile out of Soajo.
Powered by solar panels, heated with a large fireplace, with its own well and septic. There's a pretty little brook below the patio.
The footpath to town was right across the brook from our house.
Our neighbors were pretty quiet and polite . . .
. . . and a little shy . . .
. . . but they warmed up quickly.
Soajo is in the county of Arcos de Valdevez, in the district of Viana do Castelo.
Both names hearken back to Romanesque conquests in the 12th and 13th centuries. This is a land that has been fought over much in its history.
But at its core, it has changed little. The area is sustained by farming and cattle.
To manage growing crops on the steep slopes of the Serra, farmers make use of terracing.
Footpaths meander among the walled fields, pastures, and vineyards. Grape vines festoon the landscape.
It's easy to see things have not changed much over the decades. The pace of change is slow.
It's easy to remember that, despite being on a mountain, we're in a temperate zone.
We were surrounded by color and life, even in December.
The inhabitants of Soajo and the area live in a sea of colors.
Life rules.
The residents take pride in their accomplishments. They have bred their own unique canine breed, both a hunting dog and a shepherd. It's called Cao Sabujo da Serra do Soajo.
"The Dog Hound of the Soajo Mountain".
We found plenty of another favorite creature. The Portuguese are very friendly!
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