Monsanto · Houses Built Beneath the Rocks

The houses of Monsanto are built directly among the boulders: rock serves as wall, roof and doorframe, and in some yards a whole boulder hangs above the doorway.

A saying in the village goes: these stones were put there by people, not moved aside; the villagers have lived with the stones so long that they know which can be shifted and which cannot.

The village is so small it has only one main street. The locals have just one warning for visitors: do not push the stones, they are holding up other people’s roofs.

Folklore / Monsanto · Portugal / Time immemorial