About
Piódão is a village in the Serra do Açor mountains of central Portugal, built almost entirely from dark schist stone. Its houses rise and step down the hillside, so the village reads from a distance much as its nickname suggests: the "Nativity Scene Village", a picture of stone and terraced slopes.
What a visit is like
Piódão suits a slow visit. Most of the pleasure lies in walking its narrow cobbled streets, where the houses, doorways and small gardens change with each turn. The terraced gardens are a reminder of how the land around the village has long been worked by hand.
- Walk the narrow streets on foot, since the village is best seen at a steady pace.
- Look out over the terraces and the surrounding mountain scenery.
- Take in the traditional schist architecture, which gives the village its character.
Getting there and what to expect
Piódão is remote, set within a mountain range rather than close to a large town, so it is better treated as a destination in its own right than a stop on the way somewhere else. Plan your journey with that in mind, and allow time to enjoy the quiet that such a place offers. Those who enjoy untouched rural landscapes and a sense of traditional mountain life will find it rewarding.
