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CASTELO DE VIDE |
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| CASTELO DE VIDE covers the slopes around a fourteeth-century castle,
its blindingly white cottages delineated in brilliant contrast to the
greenery around. Arriving by bus, you'll be dropped outside the tourist
office (daily: summer 9am-7pm; winter 9am-12.30pm & 2-5.30pm; tel 045
901 361) in the centre of town. From here the main road peters out into
a narrow path, descending past a tranquil Renaissance fountain to the
twisting alleyways of the Judairia - the old Jewish quarter. Amid the
cottages with their Gothic doorways and windows, is a thirteenth-century
synagogue (daily 9am-6pm), the oldest surviving one in Portugal. From
the outside it doesn't look very different from the cottages, so you
will probably need to ask for directions. On a hill above the Judaria,
the Castelo (daily: summer 8am-6pm; winter 9am-12.30pm & 2-5.30pm; free)
squats within the wider fortifications of the original medieval village.
There's a surprising amount of accommodation : try the Casa de Hóspedes
Melanie , Largo de Paço Novo 3 (tel 245 901 632; £15-20/$24-32/¬27-36),
or for luxury and spectacular views the Albergaria El Rei Dom Manuel (
tel 045 909 150; £15-20/$24-32/¬27-36) which also has a good restaurant.
For delicious snacks try the pastries at the Pasteleria Sol Nascente at
Rua de Olivena 31. |
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