Monsanto (or Monsanto da Beira) is a Portuguese parish of the county of Idanha-a-Nova, with 131.95 km² of area.

It was the county seat between 1174 and 1853. It was constituted by the parishes of the headquarters, Aldeia de João Pires, Aldeia do Salvador and Toulões. It had, in 1801, 2139 inhabitants.

It was the headquarters of an extinct parish in 2013, under a national administrative reform, in order to form, together with Idanha-a-Velha, a new parish known as the Union of Parishes of Monsanto and Idanha-a-Velha.

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Start with the quaint, traditional village, with its churches and viewpoints scattered waiting for you and glimpse the ancient Clock Tower. Then climb up to the Castle and the Walls, where you can marvel at beautiful views of the streak and discover on each corner a beautiful postcard to keep in your memory.
 
In 1938 the village raiana Monsanto is elected the most Portuguese of the national villages. More than seven decades later, this melancholy and welcoming place preserves the most beautiful and characteristic marks of our urban past.
Built on a escarpment of granite outcrops, their houses share the sharing of lands that have been born in these landscapes. In its streets leading to the top of the hill of 758 meters, the visitor should rush to his enthusiasm to be rewarded by one of the most beautiful views of Beira-Baixa, already sitting on the castle walls.

It is a very old place, with a human presence since the Paleolithic. The lack of in-depth scientific work in the field of archeology makes certain periods of pre-and proto-history of the place remain enveloped in a certain obscurity. In any case, archaeological vestiges account for a Lusitanian castro of Roman villas and baths in the so-called S. Lourenço field, at the foot of the hill.
At the time of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, D. Afonso Henriques (1112-1185) took possession of this region, where the border with the kingdom of Leon and with the Almóadas was established. To guard it, the domains of Idanha-a-Velha and Monsanto were donated to the knights of the Order of the Templars with the responsibility of repopulating and defending them.

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Combined with the best regional produce, you will surely love the tasty menu waiting for you in the typical Monsanto Village.

Start by experimenting with starters such as delicious Farinheira with eggs and Asparagus with eggs, but be sure to leave room for the remaining culinary delicacies. The advice will be for some Incarnated Bean Crumbs and Greens to accompany a delicious Lamb Chop to the Granites. Finally, you can opt for regional and greasy Popes de Caroulo. If you want to try out stronger flavors, you can always try chorizo ​​or order game dishes and a traditional delicacy of the region, the Partridge in Escabeche sauce.

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