The Skin of the Devil (A Pele do Diabo): Caretos de Podence

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth” - Oscar Wilde With its remote beauty and strong, independently-minded people, Trás-os-Montes (meaning ‘beyond the mountains’) is one of the most isolated and genuinely unspoilt parts of southern Europe. Plateaus and majestic mountains make up the scenery while untouched historical villages keep the traditions alive. Podence is one of those small villages, made famous by an ongoing ritual that dates back more than 2000 years, to Roman times, where devil and men run, hand in hand, causing havoc and misfits. The “Caretos de Podence” is a devilish ritual that stood the test of time, a ritual where men are allowed to incarnate the devil by setting free their primary instinct and innate behaviour: the search for the woman.