Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Faro > Monchique > Marmelete
Casa do Medronho is located in Marmelete, a traditional village nestled in the heart of the Monchique Mountains. This mountain locality is characterized by its natural landscape and an atmosphere of tranquility, typical of the most preserved regions of the Algarve's interior. The surroundings are marked by dense vegetation and the elevations that define the mountain range.
Set within an authentic rural context, Casa do Medronho benefits from a setting where nature is in harmony with local traditions, providing a genuine glimpse into the mountain life of the Monchique municipality.
This space is entirely dedicated to showcasing the medronho (arbutus berry), a wild fruit that thrives on the slopes of the Monchique Mountains, and its traditional spirit. Casa do Medronho in Marmelete celebrates the strong connection between the local community and this indigenous tree, whose harvesting and transformation have been, over several generations, a pillar of the regional economy and culture.
The site serves as a meeting point for the heritage and history associated with one of the most emblematic and identity-forming productions of the Algarve mountains, underlining the importance of the medronho in the lives and traditions of Monchique's inhabitants.
Visiting Casa do Medronho allows visitors to explore the complete cycle of the medronho, from its seasonal harvesting in the wild to the meticulous distillation process. It is a place where ancestral techniques used and still used in the production of the spirit are preserved and demonstrated, offering insight into the artisanal work and know-how passed down from generation to generation.
The atmosphere invites discovery and understanding of the dedication and patience required to transform this wild fruit into a final product of great cultural significance. It provides an in-depth understanding of the art of distillation and the value of the medronho as an integral part of the local identity.
Casa do Medronho reflects the simplicity and robustness of mountain constructions, naturally integrating into the landscape of Marmelete. Its focus on the medronho highlights the region's rural identity and the resilience of Monchique's inhabitants in keeping their practices alive and maintaining a profound respect for the land.
The space offers an opportunity to appreciate an authentic aspect of the Algarve's intangible heritage, in an environment that inspires observation and appreciation of the origins and traditions that have shaped life in the mountains over time.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.311972,-8.6695391
Coordinates DMS: 37°18'43.1"N 08°40'10.3"W
Weather Marmelete
On-duty Pharmacy Marmelete
