The building was commissioned by the painter José Malhoa in 1895, and served as his residence after his settlement in Figueiró dos Vinhos.

From so small, that it would receive the name of O Casulo, the house of José Malhoa became, throughout the years, an emblematic space, a huge testimony of the painter’s creations.

Despite the successive changes it underwent in its adaptation to private residence after its sale in 1937, the building maintains the peculiar characteristics that identify it as an architectural piece of fundamental importance in the local heritage.

A 15 minutes’ walk from the village of Casal de São Simão, we find a place of unparalleled beauty to relax and breathe pure air.

The limpid and crystalline waters invite you to dive in the hot days, and for the more courageous it is possible to practice climbing with several equipped routes, rappel or slide.

The abundance of laurel and cork trees in the area, leave a unique fragrance in the air and the green of the hills that lead to the Serra da Lousã, reinforce the natural beauty of the region.

The Fragas de São Simão Footpaths connect the Fragas de São Simão Viewpoint to the Schist Village of Casal de São Simão, through a linear path with 1730 meters.

In this path where the Ribeira de Alge rips the rocky massif towards the Zêzere, wich promotes the harmonious natural beauty between the granite landscapes and the agricultural fields of the valley.

Casal de S. Simão is a small village, consisting of 23 houses mostly built in quartzite.

It is located on one of the flanks of the quartzite ridge that gives rise to the Fragas de São Simão and has the oldest temple in the municipality of Figueiró dos Vinhos.

This village is part of a network of 26 villages, spread throughout the territory of Pinhal Interior, where you can find places of extraordinary natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage and many leisure offers.