Piódão

PIÓDÃO is a traditional schist village set on a steeply terraced mountainside. If you can get over the slight theme-park atmosphere, its narrow streets are great to explore and the whole village affords superb valley views. The turismo, based in the small museum on the main square at the bottom of the village, hands out an excellent “urban circuit” in English, to help you locate the main points of interest and navigate the confusing layout. The museum itself provides an insight into traditional village life with displays that cover emigration and economy, as well as daily toil. It’s also possible to follow a couple of short walks from Piódão into the countryside – these are well signposted from the village.