Alentejo
Alentejo – the vast swathe of land that lies south-east of Lisbon is one of our favorite regions anywhere in the Iberian Peninsula. It stretches from the Atlantic coast across to the Spanish border and contains so much of what makes Portugal irresistible. Over the centuries, it has preserved its rich heritage, undoubtable charm and picturesque rural landscape. It is the essence of the traditional Portuguese countryside, where you are transported to cork-oak forests, wheat fields and olive groves. Alentejo is also home to a myriad of UNESCO world heritage sites, some of Europe’s most ragged coastlines and undiscovered wild beaches. Throughout the regions 5 national parks and countless nature reserves, there are clusters of hilltop castles and quaint country villages where a slow-moving way of life is embraced wholeheartedly.
And the people are incredibly gracious and friendly, especially our friends and partners who look to welcome you to Alentejo. There are all sorts of possibilities….
Enjoy cooking classes, visits to Megalithic sites, artisanal days and hand-made pottery sessions, stargazing evenings, visits to honey and olive oil, tapestry and cork producers and much more.
A wine lover’s paradise, Alentejo is also quietly claiming its place alongside more famous European wine regions with the proliferation of inventive young wine makers, pioneering technology, and word class vineyards. Some of Iberia’s most unique and sophisticated wines herald from here and a winery visit here always exceeds expectations.
Évora, Portugal’s best preserved medieval city, is a must. A unique and historic city, 2,000-year old Évora is a labyrinth of streets and city squares, Renaissance fountains, Moorish courtyards and Gothic doorways and turrets. We work with some fabulous properties both within Évora itself and a short drive away. A few miles from here, you’ll find the “Almendres”, a pre-historic cromlech of 95 stones which experts believe is older than Stonehenge.
Heading to the Spanish border, one of our preferred properties, especially for families is situated near Monsaraz. This charming hilltop village is surrounded by its original medieval walls and miles of beautiful Portuguese countryside. The area has been settled since prehistoric times, evidenced by the unusual Megalithic monuments carved from rock. Today it bears the marks of the successive periods of history it has been through, from the fortifications built by the Knights Templar to the Moorish influence throughout the town’s architecture.
Come and discover the essence of Portugal and rediscover your own center in this very special landscape.
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