Monshiki is a small Portuguese city in the Algarve region, it is located on the hills of the Serra de Monshiqui mountain range. The mountains are of volcanic origin, and protect Monshiki from cold winds in winter. The mountain peaks of Foya (902 m) and Picot (774 m) can be reached on foot from the city center.
According to experts of history, Monshiki was known since the Stone Age, this is evidenced by the found tools and ancient burial structures (dolmens). Most of the archives were destroyed by the Great Lisbon Earthquake (1755), but there is evidence that the royal Portuguese dynasty traveled to Monchiqui to restore health.
The center of Monshika is cozy, small winding streets are paved with cobblestones. Local attractions: Franciscan Monastery of St. Mary, Chapel of St. Theresa, Church of the Virgin and Church of Sebastian.
The Portuguese call Monshiki the "Garden of the Algarve": the city is built in the depths of the valley surrounded by magnolias, the largest in Europe, as well as oaks and cork trees. In the village there are picturesque parks of Omega and Mina with flower beds, suspension bridges and cozy corners in the shade, in which you can hide from the scorching heat.
Citizens are busy growing beans, oranges, olives, grapes, chestnuts, olive oil. In Monshiki, handicraft production is widely developed, for example, the manufacture of folding chairs.
The weather in Monshiki is comfortable all year round, the climate is subtropical: in August the air can warm up to +22 C, and the average annual temperature is +15 s, precipitation falls no more than 700 mm per year.
A few kilometers from Monshika there is the village of Kaldash di Monshiki, about which the ancient Romans knew, and it was they who called the hot mineral springs “holy waters” and built baths there. Now this resort is considered a popular balneological center and a large thermal hospital.
Not far from Monchika is Silviš, the former Moorish capital, and its red-walled castle is considered the most beautiful monument of Arab military architecture in Portugal.
Monshiki is known for the “medroneira”, traditional in the region, a kind of aguardente, brandy (aged grape alcohol) of the Portuguese from the fruits of the strawberry tree.
In the village, guests stay in hotels of different stars, apartments, most of the rooms have air conditioning and cable television, there is Internet. The city has restaurants of Mediterranean and European cuisine.
