Best Tourism Villages

The Historical Villages of Castelo Rodrigo and Castelo Novo were recognized and distinguished (in 2021 and 2022, respectively) as "Best Tourism Villages in the World" in the first two editions of "Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO", an initiative promoted by the World Tourism Organization.

In 2021, the Historical Village of Castelo Rodrigo was recognized as one of the "Best Tourism Villages", among 170 candidates from 75 countries, in the first edition of the "Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO", an initiative promoted by the World Tourism Organization.

The premiere edition of the "Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO" initiative, promoted by the World Tourism Organization, distinguished villages around the world that are genuinely committed to the promotion and preservation of their cultural and historical legacy, and promoters of sustainable tourism. Through the example of the "Best Tourism Villages", the World Tourism Organization seeks to demonstrate that tourism can be a positive force for rural development and community well-being.

Already in the second edition of the initiative (in 2022), it was the turn of the recognition for the Historical Village located in the mountains of Gardunha, in a landscape in a natural amphitheatre, in shades of green and grey of granite. Picturesque and inspiring, it was recognised as one of the "Best Tourism Villages", among 130 candidates from 57 countries, in the second edition of the "Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO".

This second edition of the initiative "Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO" distinguished villages, all over the world, genuinely committed to the promotion and preservation of their cultural and historical legacy, and promoters of sustainable tourism. In the specific case of the Historic Village of Castelo Novo, recent projects such as "Sustainable Urban Mobility" developed in partnership with Renault Portugal, the implementation of the fibre optic network with Altice and a series of measures in the field of accessibility, were decisive for the award of the distinction "Best Tourist Villages".

Located in the heart of the Gardunha mountain range, Castelo Novo is a unique Historical Village, without equal in the world. Surrounded by an aura of mysticism, in this place everything captivates, from the sound of the water that springs from the fountains, to the perpetuated granite that raises the Historical Village and carves the houses, the pavements, the squares. A whole unique architectural heritage.

Both candidatures for "Best Tourist Village" took place by invitation of the Tourism of Portugal to the Historical Villages of Portugal. The concerted work between the two entities culminated in the submission of two applications, which proved to be winners.