Schist Villages And Medieval Castles Tour

We were not only given a good look at four different schist villages, from the touristy to the rarely visited, but also given an interesting social history of Portugal in the past century, by our guide Monica. A wonderful alternative to the busy city tours as Monica takes you out into the country and nature.

very thoughtful and caring guide. Very knowledgeable of the area and took us to many villages avoiding the tourist crowd. Had a wonderful time and finished with a traditional local meal. Highly recommend.

We felt so lucky we found her as she is really the greatest guide we could ask for, for an interesting and lovely introduction of the schist villages. She is super passionate and smart. She has much love for the villages and great knowledge, with loads of intesting and surprising facts about her country and its history. We had a truely unforgettable day and will definetely recommend everyone to take her Epicocentro tour 😄🙏

Monica is amazing and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with her. She was very knowledgeable about the Moorish castle and the Schist villages. We visited four villages- two “touristy” but I didn’t think either really were, just one isn’t as authentic because of renovations. The two non touristy ones were very special. Wandering around Mónica picked mushrooms and gave me fruit to eat straight from the trees. She was able to provide the history of the area and point out various construction features. We had a terrific conversation over lunch despite our 45 year age gap. She also provided a history of Portugals dictatorship which was fascinating. I liked how she provided both factual information during our time together and inserted personal stories about her family. You must do this trip and with Monica. She is a very special person.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Amazing Experience with Monica Our tour with Monica to see the Schist (stone) villages was absolutely amazing! From the very beginning, she made us feel welcome by providing water and a sweet treat to start our journey. Monica was informative, professional, kind, and incredibly personable. Her knowledge of Portuguese history was impressive, and she brought the history and culture of the villages to life in a way that made the experience so much more meaningful. She took us to four different villages. Two had been beautifully restored, with services and lodging available, while the other two remained largely unrestored. Seeing both gave us a fascinating contrast and allowed us to understand how people once lived—and, in some cases, still live—without electricity or running water. One of the highlights was meeting the locals in each village. They were funny, kind, welcoming, and engaging, which made the experience feel authentic rather than simply being a sightseeing tour. We also enjoyed some wonderful unexpected moments along the way—eating grapes right off the vine, picking blackberries, tasting figs and persimmons, and seeing an abundance of chestnut trees, something we rarely see in the United States anymore. Monica didn’t just show us the villages—she gave us a glimpse into the history, culture, people, and everyday life of this beautiful part of Portugal. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for an authentic, memorable experience away from the typical tourist attractions. If you have the opportunity to tour with Monica, don’t hesitate—you won’t be disappointed!

We had a magical experience visiting the castle & the four schist villages. It was fascinating learning about Portuguese history from Monica who is extremely knowledgeable. She pointed out key differences among the four villages, shared traditional pastries, & recommended a restaurant with an amazing view & the best food we had our whole trip. From start to finish we had a delightful, personalized experience that we will always cherish. On top of all this she took photos of our day that she later shared with us. Thank you!

Monica is a nice and relaxing woman who guided us trough the nice places. She told about the history of these places, we went for a short 'swim', and she answered all our questions! Thank you for the interesting and nice tour! Maybe we'll meet again 👋👏

What a fantastic day in the Lousa mountain range with Mónica, visiting 4 very different schist villages. Mónica was an excellent guide, speaking great English with a clear passion for these ancient abodes. Her knowledge of the history and idiosyncrasies of the villages was outstanding. We never felt rushed, and finished the afternoon sharing a delicious platter of local cheese and charcuterie. Boar and deer to be seen on the way back to Coimbra if you take the afternoon tour. This tour was supposed to include one of the nearby castles but it was closed for some reason. Be prepared for steep, mysterious winding lanes and uneven steps. Monica took plenty of photos for us (knowing all the best vistas!) and we have booked another tour with her.

Very thoughtful and prepared guide. We appreciated the small group tour and our guide’s personal knowledge of the villages and the people living there.

What an awesome tour we had today. Monica picked us up at the city center, just 2 minutes from our Airbnb. She was so friendly and accommodating. The weather was rainy, but we still decided to go. It was so worth it. It gave the entire existence a mythical, magical, almost fairy garden feel. Monica took us to 4 villages in the Schist Villages…we also went to see one castle. Monica was so knowledgeable about the area we went to. Her enthusiasm for the culture was so evident. At the last village, we ate at the restaurant because she said it was the best goat stew in Coimbra; she wasn’t kidding. It was delicious. We also had a sampler of various cheeses and meats. The entire experience was absolutely amazing and so worth it. Highly recommend this adventure!

Monica was a knowledgeable and helpful guide, and the tour was interesting given the history of the villages. It was a great learning experience and fun. We highly recommend Monica and the tour.

Mónica is a fantastic guide with a huge amount of knowledge of the schist villages. She is incredibly generous with her time and helped my elderly mom feel comfortable as well, making sure that she had a shaded place to rest while my wife and I explored. Her explanations of the origins of the villages as well as her close relationships allow her to bring a lucky few people to truly see the beauty of the area and the people that live there. This is a great change of pace from the bustle of Coimbra and I can’t give a higher recommendation.

The Schist Villages tour was really great and a nice change of pace from the other experiences we have had in Coimbra, Lisbon, Nazare, etc. Our guide, Monica, was the absolute best and was very knowledgeable about each of the villages that we visited. We walked through four villages and in each one Monica was pointing out interesting things and talking with local residents that she is friends with. As a part of our group, we were traveling with an older family member and Monica was very attentive to their needs and comfort with the walking paths. Highly recommend this tour if you are looking for something a little different and want to experience a different part of Portuguese culture that is more relaxing than the usual tourist attractions.

Mónica is a wonderful tour guide. There was four of us in the group and she did a great job keeping us all engaged. She shared relevant stories growing up in nearby area and is very passionate about sharing the rich history of Coimbra. I highly recommend Mónica.

This is the perfect tour for people who prefer a small, personalised activity. Mónica is a wonderful guide who genuinely cares about the places she takes us to and the people who live and work there. Her knowledge of the history is excellent and she happily shares this with her guests. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the villages and Mónica was very accomodating of our schedule. Can highly recommend for anyone who wants to avoid mass tourism and learn from a local passionate about her country and people!

Monica is a very sweet person, we enjoyed spending the day with her. And she has a great deal of knowledge about the area. She was easily able to change the tour just a bit due to fires in some of the villages we were to visit, as she wanted to make sure we had a memorable tour. Wishing you all the best! Cheryl B.

Mónica was amazing - I learned so much on this tour. She was professional, kind, thoughtful of my experience, and so knowledgeable of the areas we visited. This was highlight of my whole Portugal trip! I would absolutely recommend and even return for another visit. Thank you, Mónica!

Monica's knowledge and enthusiasm made this one of the most interesting and enjoyable tours we've been on Especially the cooling river pool swim when the temp was 40C. A great experience.

Monica was a wonderful guide to the villages and mountains. She had a lot of interesting stories and we had good conversations about the history of Portugal and the places we visited. It was clear that she loves the places and that made the Tour really amazing. I would recomend travelling with Monica!

Wow. Monica was informative, professional, fun and passionate about Schists Villages and the people who live their isolated lives here. A great tour.

I had a truly wonderful time on the Slate Villages and Medieval Castles tour! The experience was not only beautiful and fascinating, but also incredibly enriching. My guide was such a lovely and kind person – very knowledgeable and passionate about the region and its history. She shared so many interesting facts and stories that really brought the places to life.

From the moment Monica came to pick me up to her returning me to my accommodation, I felt like I had spent time with a friend, cousin or niece rather than a tour guide. Visiting some Schist Villages was definitely on my bucket list & Monica's guided tour ticked the list again & again. It was by far the most personal trip I have done. Just the two of us, we visited 4 villages from Coimbra, with a highlight being our chat with Monica's friend who moved to live in one of the villages many years ago. The histories of these communities were fascinating & revealed something of 'the real Portugal', as Monica says. The pace was easy & I found the walking v manageable. I really appreciated Monica taking photos of me along the way. V thoughtful. I would say that this tour is unmissable.

This was one of the best things we did during our 10 days in Portugal. This unique natural and built landscape was thoughtfully presented by Monica, who clearly knows and loves the area. I'd recommend hiring a guide just to do the driving, but it was particularly special to get a local perspective on the history of this beautiful region. Monica was very mindful of going at a pace we could handle and making sure we were comfortable the whole time. Highly recommend!

This was one of the best things we did during our 10 days in Portugal. This unique natural and built landscape was thoughtfully presented by Monica, who clearly knows and loves the area. I'd recommend hiring a guide just to do the driving, but it was particularly special to get a local perspective on the history of this beautiful region.

Monica is a wonderful guide because she knows her area so well and is excited to share her knowledge and the beauty of the area. I wanted to see the schist villages and she knows them all including the people who still live in some of them. It rained most of the day but it didn’t stop us from enjoying the views and the fascinating old buildings. The castle at the end was the icing on the cake!

Just amazing amazing amazing!! Personalized. Private. Fun. Learned tons of info regarding this unique secluded place. So far the best tour that i had experienced in Portugal. Thank you!!

I went alone and Monica did a perfect job in guiding, very friendly and also very passionate about guiding and teaching you. Allows you to really take things in and enjoy. An perfect local experience the friendliest guide ever. Thanks! Absolutely worth it and will recommend.

Monica was a fabulous guide. My husband hurt his knee two days before and she was very attentive to his limitations. The places she showed us were so interesting, from a village that’s been mostly restored to one where only a few people live. We highly recommend the tour this delightful woman will take you on.

Monica was a super guide! She knew so much about the villages and the castles. We got some stunning photos. The lunch at a restaurant in one of the villages was delicious , an authentic Portuguese dish recommended by Monica. It could not have been a better day.

A great day stepping back in time in four Schist villages and nearby medieval sites! This was a very interesting tour, where we learned a great deal from Monica about not only the Schist villages, but also about how life was many years ago for the people who lived there. Monica's passion for the simple life lived by Schist villagers is evident in her knowledge and how she shares information throughout the tour. We have already had friends ask us about who we toured with, and we will be referring Monica to them!

The castles are amazing and Monica knows the history of them and is extremely informative. Monica also knows alot about the Schist villages and I felt like I was transported by Tolkien back to the land of the hobbits. they're so wonderful. Of course I was there during the rainy season with all the clouds and the mist, it was just out of this world, fairy land experience. I will definitely take another tour with Monica when I return, besides being knowledgeable she is really sweet and cares for her clients. We even went to a Fado concert together, apart from the tour and had an ice cream entered the college and then she drove me to the bus stop so I wouldn't have to take an Uber. I tried to tip her but she would not accept it, I now feel bad that I dif not just drop some money on her vehicle floor because she well deserved it

12 Nov 2025, a rainy day that Mónica has turned into an unforgettable experience. All shale villages have a peculiar beauty and autumn with its colors contrasting with shale stones transports us to a unique and magical place. We adored the little tourist villages and that therefore retain their true essence. Mónica’s vast historical knowledge combined with the feelings of those who have real pleasure in what she does, convey us her true passion for nature and animals. It involved us in the distant and present times of the families who still live there. Treat the villages for yourself and the kindness with which treats the community that lives there make it part of the place. I found Mónica's idea to organize private visits brilliant. I went with my husband, we were just us and the visit became even more special in our time. Answered all our questions and still took us photos 😊 The sympathy, kindness, attention, the easy and genuine smile were the cherry on top of the cake. † We will be back in the spring with Monica to whom we wish much success in the profession she chose. Continue to be the beautiful person you are.

I loved it!!! A Different Experience, Off That Third Party Beaten I strongly advise anyone wanting to discover a more authentic side of the country and closer to the lives of the gents

Very nice tour. Mónica super attentive and kind. We loved it!!! We recommend the walk. Claudia and Onicio.

It was an incredible experience and very rewarding! Beautiful villages that looked like dollhouses! Monica was great and told the peculiarities of each place with a lot of enthusiasm and clarity!

Something incredible, 5 hours passed too fast, an incredible experience and too indicative to Monica was sensational super indicative

Wonderful afternoon in the villages and castles, places that do not tire of enchanting and surprising, as if we were going back in time, and there could be no better guide than Monica, who made everything more fascinating with her knowledge and her sympathy. I highly recommend!

We spent a lovely day between the history of the castles and the beauty of the shale villages. I highly recommend, to repeat without a doubt!

Excellent guide, it is noted that Monica really likes and understands what she does, super recommend! I went with a group of friends in October and we are already planning to do other tours in different locations, which we do question that repeats and her orientation! Congratulations on your sympathy and professionalism.

Excellent guide, very attentive and dedicated, excellent tour I was delighted and want to come back as soon as possible!! My family also loved and wants to repeat ❤️ Never lose this admiration for nature, loved 😍

Our trip went very well. The landscapes, the vegetation and the mountain were amazing, as well as our guide, Mónica was amazing and always attentive with us. Without a doubt, to repeat :)

The Mónica is super amazing. Note that you are in love with what I recommend. In February I will go back to routing the villages of the shists with her.