Photos

This lady makes Marfona Dolls and sells them from her doorstep on the Rua do Castela, Monsanto, Pt. A charming lady, very proud of her work, which is indeed of the highest craftsmanship.

The dolls are keepsakes, a memory of a journy to the top of the mountain where , during the Festa da Noso Senhora das Cruzes the women of Monsanto carry the dolls and jars of flowers to the castle for an all night party-- The jars are thrown over the castle walls to commemorate the defeat of the Moors-- the dolls are then kept under mattresses to help ensure a fertile marriage!