Piodao: Portugal's Schist Village

Piódão looks like a nativity scene come to life. It’s a village of dark schist houses with blue doors and windows, stacked in terraces on a steep mountainside, around a little white church. It’s remote, beautiful and one of the most photographed villages in Portugal.

Quick answer: Piódão is in the Serra do Açor in central Portugal, about 1.5 to 2 hours from Coimbra on winding mountain roads. A car is essential. Wander the lanes, see the church, walk a trail to the neighbouring villages and stay overnight for the evening light. See places to stay in Piódão.

Things to do

• Explore the village: narrow stepped lanes between schist houses.
• The church: the white Igreja Matriz with its blue trim and cylindrical buttresses stands out against the dark stone.
• The viewpoint: the classic photo from the road above the village, at sunset or when the lights come on.
• Hike: trails link Piódão with the nearby villages of Foz d’Égua (with a river beach) and Chas d’Égua.
• Local food: mountain cooking, honey and liqueurs.

Getting there

The roads are narrow and twisting, so allow extra time and avoid driving at night if you’re not used to mountain roads. See driving in Portugal.

Nearby

• The Schist Villages: a network of mountain villages in the Lousã and Açor ranges.
• Serra da Estrela: see Serra da Estrela.
• Monsanto and the historic villages: see Monsanto and the historic villages.

More: Portugal’s hidden gems and the most beautiful small towns.

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