Jo’s Monday walk : Magnificent Marvão

Dawn breaks over the castle at Marvão, serene and beautiful.  I had been niggling for a little while.  ‘Can we have a few days away?’ before company arrives and the summer hots up.  How lucky was I?  A virus was nibbling away at all our lives.  The situation was to take a turn for the worse in my absence.  But I was granted a reprieve.  Pure escapism!  To the border country, on the heights of the Alentejo, here in Portugal.

It was a little drab on our arrival, cloud pressing down on our heads, but undeterred we took to the walls.  Finding them full of rich promise.

As evening settled around us, slowly, a break in the clouds, and the last of the sun’s warmth painted the sky.  Coral tones, delighting my heart.

I could hardly wait to see what the next day would bring!  The world floated beneath me, the natural park of the Serra de Sáo Mamede.  Ahead the proud and mighty castle, never yet conquered, with its petticoat of gardens, and a fountain playing gently in the dusk.  Nearby the Igreja Santiago seemed still to be open.  Timidly I poked my head inside, to be greeted with a welcoming smile.

Gratefully we returned to the hotel for supper.  Although the forecast for the next day was good, I wasn’t overly confident, but it dawned with clouds high and puffy in a beautiful blue sky.  I would be able to see Marvão at its glorious best.

Much of the village is in pristine condition, but here and there a door or window caught my eye.  A candidate for a little affection.

Personality and gentle humour seem to characterise Marvão, but nothing overshadows the castle, looking down on the village from its granite crag.

The cisterna is remarkable for its size, 10 metres by 46.  It was built to gather sufficient rainwater to last 6 months, in case of siege.  There is no other natural source on the peak of the mountain, almost 900 metres above sea level.

Just beyond the castle, the former Igreja da Santa Maria is now a very beautiful museum.

We had much to see in the valley below, but later that evening we returned to Marvão for supper, to find the castle floodlit.

The photo quality is poor, but I know you always appreciate cake.  You may have realised that I was completely smitten with Marvão.  We were leaving the next day and, desperate for one last look, I crept out of the hotel at dawn, entranced by the mists floating in the valley.

I had not intended to return to blogging so soon, but much is happening in our world, and for me you are all a part of that.  On our return, Portugal had closed schools and suspended all public and social events.  Group activities are at an end, restaurants are reducing numbers if not closing, and now the border with Spain is closed.  It is all precautionary and time will tell how effective it will be, but meantime I shall try to brighten your lives, as I always have.  And, of course, there are walks to share.

walking logo

Rupali, reminding me what snow looks like (and it does snow in Marvão, but not on my visit)

Just a walk…

Liesbet has a little fun, and gets licked!

Happy Cows – A Walk in the Field

Drake knows Paris better than most of us :

Feeling at home out

Miriam brings us beautiful vistas, in her own special way :

Wild about the Grampians

While Cathy continues to be beautifully disgruntled in Rome!

Promises, promises in the Vatican Museums

And Margaret?  Well, it seems she likes wallowing in mud  🙂

Roughly the Same Walk as Last Week

That’s it for now.  Take good care of yourselves, and don’t loose heart.  We’re all in this together!

131 comments

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  5. PS Marvão was a splendid choice for a few days respite. The architecture and gardens are beautiful. I fully intend to still keep up with my training [walking], I would go bonkers if I didn’t or perhaps it’s my likely to send Les bonkers 🙂

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    1. I can’t think of a better place for splendid isolation, Suzanne. Unfortunately the real world encroaches but we’ll do our best to stay cheerful. You are a fine example. Take a big heap of virtual hugs 🙂 🙂

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  7. What a delight to see you back Jo and what an incredible castle and village, Beautiful photos. I miss old and ancient history over here. (Unless jack and I qualify for that description!!!) Good decision to get away for a lovely break before the world went into lock down. I love your descriptive writing you really paint a beautiful portrait in words and photos that make me want to visit. But joining you for a walk around is the next best thing. Keep walking, keep blogging and stay safe my lovely blogging buddy.

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    1. I think we most of us on here qualify as ancient history, Pauline. Every wrinkle tells a story 🙂 🙂 It’s good to be back. I’m going to try not to dwell on the V word because there’s more gloom out there than I can handle, but sharing your woes can help. And I’ll definitely share the delights. Thanks, darlin!

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      1. I agree Jo definitely not worth dwelling on the doom and gloom. There is always a positive side if you look for it. Love reading your happy posts, keep them coming. More time to read blogs and write posts now I am home 24/7…

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  8. “petticoat of gardens” – you are becoming a poet! Looks delightful though I’m not sure about the steepness of the place. You got some lovely photos and I could see some that would fit into my challenge at a later date. We managed to enjoy a day out today as the sun shone ALL day for the first time in over a month! And now we are supposed to self isolate? I have been doing that since September! This year was supposed to be a travel year – best laid plans and all that. Thank goodness for the virtual world, we’ll just have to share our own little pieces of paradise!

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    1. Consequences, Jude! I can see me becoming very grumpy in the next few weeks. Not physically being able to visit our young un is gnawing at me. But I need to keep it light on here. It would mostly have been too steep for you but you could enjoy a short visit. Next week’s walk is down in the valley, looking up and I’ve got an easy walk for you there. No cake, because everything was shut, but you won’t mind that 🙂 🙂 We just need to stay healthy and hopefully this will pass, but it has a kind of 9/11 feel to it. Will the world ever be the same? Hugs, old buddy! We’ll meet up one day.

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  10. Well, I’ve now read your post. What a marvellous place, wonderful scenery, peace. I was walking today, but came home, as expected, to hear that my age group has to self-isolate. BUT exercise is still recommended so we can legitimately get out to walk, provided we maintain ‘social distance’. Thank goodness! My daughter in Spain can’t – just to go to the shops is all. So it’s all a bit tough. Stay safe,stay happy!

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    1. Our groups have been disbanded but we rather rebelliously did a 10 person walk on Sunday. 2 of them went home today and 2 more go on Friday so we’re down to 6. I think 5 is ‘officially’ ok here at present. I don’t see how they can police it, but you can be made to feel very uncomfortable. We do know some out of the way places though. I’ll have to go food shopping tomorrow anyway. 😦

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    1. It’s the most beautiful part of Portugal, Nicole- though I probably say that about lots of places. 🙂 🙂 It was wonderful to have the place almost to ourselves, but I hope we can all weather this storm together. Take care, hon, and thanks!

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  13. Well I’m glad you came back quickly because you brighten my life. You do have permission to spread your wings a little way as long as you keep sharing it all x:-)x
    Don’t tell too many pwople about Marvao though, it’s perfext as is is. Love you sweetie.

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    1. I thought it was pretty perfect too, hon. There were only 4 of us staying in the hotel so you have to worry for businesses, but it was wonderful to have the place to ourselves. 🙂 🙂 Are you working from home yet? Please take care, Gilly!

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  19. Thank you so very, very much, Jo. Walking with you is always a great joy–perhaps especially now. I feel very blessed to be part of the blogging community.

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  20. I didn’t know anything about Marvão, but it looks beautiful through your lens, Jo. I’m so glad you were able to make an escape before we are all hunkered down in our homes for who knows how long. Everything seems to be closing here, schools, businesses, everything you can think of. I hope this doesn’t go on for too long or economies will suffer all over the world. Not even to mention the overwhelming of hospitals, and sickness and even death, etc. Thanks for bringing some brightness into the world. I thought you had taken off from blogging so didn’t link, but I guess I’ll have to start again. What else to do now but get outdoors for walks, and keep on blogging?

    Keep safe and healthy, Jo, and keep on exploring while “socially distancing.” I hope walking outdoors will remain an open option. 🙂 (Oh yes, and perfect description of my time at the Vatican Museums – beautifully disgruntled!)

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    1. Hiya Cathy! No worries about the links hon. I had thought of linking this to your Photography Invitation but didn’t. We are at a favourite local restaurant now, with good outside space. We went out to post a birthday card and see what was open. The smaller supermarkets are probably better than the big ones but all have queues outside so we thought we’d lunch out and make what we have last longer. It’s a funny old world! You two take good care 🤗💕

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      1. Lucky your restaurants, even outdoor ones, are open. Most of ours are closed. You have a lot fewer cases in Portugal than we do now in the U.S., as of now over 16,000. There are probably lots more people that haven’t been tested. I’m planning to stay in for a while after going out early in the week to stock up on groceries. Plus, I have either allergies or a cold…. so lying low for the time being. Take care, Jo. 🙂

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