• HOTEL: The Portuguese Alentejo villa where you would have a neighbor to Mourinho
  • ROUTE.Alentejo, the prodigal land of Portugal

There are those who say that Alentejo is a symbol of the Portuguese essence and one of the best kept secrets of the Portuguese country. Its extensive plains plagued with olive trees and cork oaks, its imposing archaeological and monumental heritage and its exquisite zero kilometer cuisine confirm this. Located between the Tagus River and the Algarve , the Alentejo knows how to entertain its visitors with authenticity, fortress cities, fine cuisine, blunt wines and a high dose of adventure.

A stone's throw from Extremadura and as anchored in a remote past, Portugal's largest region hides centuries of history among its populations. Between its cobbled streets and its natural landscapes, castles and walls, churches and jewels and a long list of artisan traditions stand out: tapestry, goldsmithing, pottery ... This is a route through five towns that reflect this.

Arraiolos

Arraiolos boasts important archaeological remains.

This Portuguese villa, with beautiful whitewashed houses with blue touches and terracotta roofs, grew out of the circular walls that still guard an imposing medieval castle. Famous for its exquisite carpets and rugs, with designs that vary between tiles, flowers, animals or abstract drawings and in whose preparation half people are involved. For the curious, there are still some embroiderers that continue to weave by hand, as in the twelfth century and archaeological remains that demonstrate the work of wool dye since the sixteenth century. After walking its cobbled streets in search of a rug to take home, it is convenient to enter the church of Mercy, with an austere facade but with a beautiful golden altar and walls covered with tiles.

Évora

The Roman past of Évora is present in many corners.

Only 20 kilometers from Arraiolos, stands before us the queen of Alto Alentejo and one of the best preserved medieval cities in Portugal. Sheltered by its fourteenth-century walls, its narrow streets keep amazing architectural works and its 40 hectares of old town were declared World Heritage Sites. Do not miss the Cathedral of Santa Maria, Romanesque and Gothic style and considered the largest medieval cathedral in the country, the Roman ruins of its temple and its hot springs, the picturesque Plaza do Giraldo , which tells the story of Évora in its own voice or the famous Chapel of the Bones, located in the place where the friars of the convent of San Francisco slept and covered with human bones from the cemetery of the city.

Monsaraz

Monsaraz is characterized by its whitewashed houses.

Probably the most beautiful town in the whole Alentejo for its natural wealth and for being one of the best preserved in the area. White and mountain , watch the plain from its hill, protected by a splendid castle that you have to climb at sunset to have the best views of the Portuguese pasture, the Guadiana valley and the Alqueva reservoir , the largest lake in Europe. In addition to crossing its slate streets banned from traffic and guarded by houses of dazzling whiteness, you have to go through the megalithic remains that attest to the remote origins of the Alentejo. There, in the middle of the landscape, there are more than 150 archaeological finds left by the ancestors that inhabited those lands more than 6,000 years ago.

Estremoz

Estremoz, located in the central Alentejo.

Together with Borba and Vila Viçosa, this town of the Central Alentejo is one of the largest producing enclaves of Portuguese marble; in the area there is so much marble of such good quality that even the cobblestones are made with this material. In addition, it emphasizes its old wall that guards the old town and the medieval castle - old royal palace -, from whose tower you can see the beautiful landscape overflowing with olive trees and cork oaks. Although it is a small and simple population, with Gothic houses , it is also a large center of commercial activity where you can buy pottery and tasty delicacies typical of the region, including wine.

Marvão

Panoramic of Marvão, perched on a hill almost 1000 meters.

This walled city , perched on a hill almost 1000 meters high in the Sierra de São Mamede Park, is ideal to disconnect from the hustle, breathe fresh air and stroll among pine and olive groves at sunset. Very close to the border with Spain, Marvão is known as the Nest of the Eagles and has one of the castles - that of King Dom Dinis - most beautiful in Portugal. After walking through its narrow streets, you will have to go through the small Gothic convent of the Lady of the Star and the picturesque churches of Santiago, the Holy Spirit and Santa Maria. In autumn it is convenient to take advantage of the gastronomic fortnight dedicated to chestnuts and drop on October 9 and 10 to celebrate the Feira da Castanha.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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