
Portugal is renowned for its rich history, but also for the beauty and contrasts of its landscapes. From north to south, not forgetting the island territories, it is possible to contemplate a vast cultural heritage, as well as some strange buildings that seem to defy the limits of the imagination.
Houses that look like they’re straight out of the Flintstones, cave-like churches and inverted buildings are all worth mentioning on this unusual trip. So forget conventional architecture and let yourself be impressed by some of Portugal’s strangest buildings.
Penedo or Flintstones House
Hidden in the mountains of Fafe, in the north of Portugal, about 380 kilometers from Lisbon, Casa do Penedo, also known as the Flintstones’ house, deserves to be highlighted here. After all, it has already been considered by several international media as “the strangest house in the world”.
Built in 1974 to serve as a seasonal refuge for the Rodrigues family, originally from Guimarães, the house is nestled into the mountain, drawing attention to its lack of right angles, triangles or circles. It is currently possible to visit the house and enjoy some experiences.
📍Rua Rally de Portugal nº 1610, 4800-000 Fafe
Inverted House
On the island of São Miguel, in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, there is another building that is, to say the least, out of the ordinary. Purposely designed to look like an ‘Inverted House’, it’s actually an electricity transformer station – probably the most original in the world.
The building was literally built upside down, with the roof facing the ground and the base facing upwards. From the outset, the aim was to make an impact, as well as to reflect in some way the volcanic activity of this island territory.
📍 EN1-1A 1, Furnas, São Miguel, Azores archipelago
Chapel of Our Lady of Lapa
On this journey through Portugal’s strangest buildings, we want to include not just houses, but different types of constructions. So the next destination takes us to a more spiritual and, of course, equally surprising realm: the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Lapa.
Located in the municipality of Vieira do Minho, this religious temple is very old and photogenic, standing out for the way it was painstakingly carved inside a gigantic granite rock, in full harmony with the surrounding nature.
📍Monte de Penamourinha, Soutelo, municipality of Vieira do Minho
Cella Bar
Finally, how about a building that has won awards for its bold architecture? Located on the island of Pico, in the Azores, this is not a house, but a bar-restaurant.
With a design reminiscent of a ship’s hull, facing the sea, the Cella Bar was named building of the year in 2016.
📍Lugar da Barca, Madalena, Pico Island, Azores
What other strange buildings would you add to this list?
Editor’s note: the order presented in this article is random, and the content will be updated whenever appropriate.