These Villages are the Next Seven Wonders of Portugal

Seven Portuguese villages have been named this year’s Seven Wonders of Portugal in a long-running campaign that makes thematic selections every year in an effort to highlight the country’s diverse scenery and destinations.

This year’s theme was “villages,” and a total of 49 hamlets were chosen for the competition. There were seven categories: Riverside, Seaside, Rural, Remote, Authentic, Monument and Protected Areas. The process involved two finalists chosen across each category, with one winner selected in a ceremony in Piódão, Arganil, last month.

The winning municipalities were Sistelo, northern Portugal, in the Rural Villages category; Fajã dos Cubres in The Azores in the Seaside Villages category; Dornes, central Portugal, in the Riverside Villages category; Piódão in the Remote Villages category; Castelo Rodrigo, north Portugal, in the Authentic Villages category; Monsaraz in the Monument Villages category; and Rio de Onor in the Protected Areas category.

The winners were selected during a week-long voting process open to interested parties in several European countries.

Now in its 10^th year, the Seven Wonders of Portugal campaign has done wonders for tourism figures at the places featured. Past winners, like the Mira de Aire Caves and the Monastery of Alcobaça, saw an increase of 40 percent following the competition.