If you like bucolic and unusual places, then you have to visit the Casa do Penedo, “the strangest house in the world”. Hidden in the mountains of the municipality of Fafe, about an hour’s drive from Porto, this quirky building has become a real tourist attraction, not only within its borders but also beyond.
Opened in 1974 as a vacation home for the Rodrigues family, originally from Guimarães, it was built almost perfectly integrated into the surrounding landscape. With a clear intention of discretion, the irony of fate would have it that from ‘secret’ this place would become very trendy.
A brief look at “the strangest house”
Owned by the same family since the 1970s, Casa do Penedo is somewhat reminiscent of the typical buildings in the Historic Village of Monsanto. It may be a misconception, but at least it’s the one we have.
Carefully embedded in the mountain, the exterior architecture is striking for its lack of right angles, triangles or circles. The huge boulders serve as a structure and the result is there for all to see: “the strangest house in the world”.
How did it become so famous?
The Penedo House, also known as the Flintstones House, has been featured on several international websites. However, according to the Idealista website, the ‘stardom’ came especially thanks to a Tokyo TV program, where the unusual architecture of this small house in Fafe was mentioned.
According to the same source, the building was also featured on the Strange Buildings In The World website in 2014. Since then, the news and reports have multiplied, but also the interest of the general public. For this reason, the family decided to promote a set of leisure and tourism experiences.
Curiosities & Experiences
Currently, you can find all the information you need about this space on the official website of Casa do Penedo. With a brief consultation, as we did, you’ll quickly realize that there’s a sea of possibilities waiting for you (and for various types of wallets).
For example, if you’re a architecture enthusiast and want to appreciate all the details of the house up close, you can book a guided tour for €6. For 1 hour, you can absorb explanations about its building and history. However, this is the cheapest experience available.
After that, there are other offers that allow you to experience the strangest house in the world and its surroundings in a different way, including some premium ones, such as:
- Lunch at Casa do Penedo for 165€;
- Experience Pool on the Mountain for 250€
- With regard to Local Accommodation, at the moment it is not yet a reality, but on the official website it is possible to read that it will soon be available.
Other peculiarities
In addition to its peculiar exterior, there are other curiosities worth mentioning. For example, as this is a family vacation home, although it is available for tourist services, it is not possible to photograph or film the interior to ensure some privacy.
In addition, spending a morning or afternoon in this place is synonymous with total disconnection from the world. This is because there is no electricity or any kind of technology. There is water and gas, of course, but the rest is really to be forgotten.
Last but not least, the access route to Casa do Penedo is part of the Rally of Portugal. This is another reason that has brought fame to a place that was born with the intention of being discreet.
📍Rua Rally de Portugal nº 1610, 4800-000 Fafe
👉More information: official website