beautiful homes high up

Marvão, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Another town built high up in the São Mamede mountain range and neighboring Castelo de Vide just under 10 kilometers away is this one, Marvão!  Don't miss it as it is full of beautiful white-washed homes with a lot of charm and spectacular views built inside a fortified village with a castle from the 11-13th centuries.  The Nobel prize-winning Portuguese writer, José Saramago, wrote "From Marvão one can see the entire country".  The town's name comes from an 8th century Muslim duke by the name of Ibn Marwan who controlled the area in the 8th century.

I agree with the New York Times bestseller book "1000 Places to See Before you Die" when they say this is one of a thousand places you must see before you die!