Portugal
Alentejo
Region
The Alentejo occupies almost a third of Portugal and is its most sparsely populated. Vast plains of cork oaks and olive groves, hilltop white villages, border castles, and a wild Atlantic coast define the region.
by Felix Gillen
The Alentejo occupies almost a third of Portugal and is its most sparsely populated. Vast plains of cork oaks and olive groves, hilltop white villages, border castles, and a wild Atlantic coast define the region.
The focal point is Évora, whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. To the east are border towns like Elvas, also a World Heritage site, Monsaraz above the Alqueva Reservoir, and Estremoz with its marble. To the south you'll find Mértola on the Guadiana and Beja, to the west the Costa Vicentina with Vila Nova de Milfontes and further north the rice fields and beaches of Comporta. In summer, it gets very hot inland; spring and autumn are the most pleasant travel times.
More places in Alentejo
Estremoz is the marble city of the Alentejo: gutters, doorframes, and even paving here are often made of white marble. Above, the castle with its keep stands majestic, below lies the wide Rossio square, where a market is held on Saturdays.
Monsaraz is a tiny, walled village on a hilltop near the Spanish border. White houses, slate alleys, and a castle overlook the Alqueva Reservoir, one of Europe's largest artificial lakes.
Mértola lies on a rock above the Guadiana, in the far south of the Alentejo. The small town was an important Roman port, later a centre of the Islamic Gharb. The main church was formerly a mosque, its prayer niche is still preserved.
Évora is the capital of Alentejo and one of Portugal's most beautiful old towns. Within its city walls lie a Roman temple, a massive cathedral, the Chapel of Bones, and white alleyways. Since 1986, the centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Spirit
Around Évora stand some of the most important megalithic sites on the Iberian Peninsula, including the Cromlech dos Almendres. Romans and Moors left behind temples, bridges, and mosques; the border location with Spain gave rise to a chain of fortresses.The Cante Alentejano, a polyphonic choral singing without instruments, has been UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2014. Also well-known are the carpets from Arraiolos and the pottery from São Pedro do Corval. In the cuisine, much revolves around bread, olive oil, herbs, and the black pig: Typical dishes include Migas, Açorda, and Carne de Porco à Alentejana. These are complemented by wines from the DOC Alentejo.
Traveling
Distances are long and public transport is sparse, making a rental car almost indispensable. You can reach Évora and Beja by train, Évora also by long-distance bus from Lisbon. For smaller places like Monsaraz or Mértola, only a few buses run.
