Alentejo

Natural beauty, architectural heritage, excellent wining and dining, the art of welcoming visitors. This is the Alentejo. 

Where the immaculate whitewashed houses provide a striking contrast to the green and gold of the fields.  Although the Alentejo is well known for its arid interior, visitors can also enjoy two hundred kilometres of coastline and countless reservoirs and lakes.

It is the largest region in Portugal and includes the districts of Portalegre, Évora and Beja as well as the southern tips of the Setúbal and Santarém districts. Traditionally recognized for the friendliness of its people, the Alentejo is a land of history, lived among castles and churches, dolmens and necropolises, and Roman ruins and towns.

It is also synonymous with excellent food and great wines. Migas (traditional corn bread and cabbage mix), gazpacho, shark soup, pork steaks, sericaia, (a traditional egg tart) always accompanied by prunes from Elvas, or fidalgos (a traditional egg and sugar cake) from Évora are just some on the unique delicacies which continue to win over lovers of great food. As for the wine, which has brought fame to the region, it is known that even the Romans appreciated the wines. In fact it was the Romans who first started to use the now traditional clay jars to serve wine. An important link between the many different areas of economic activity, Alentejo wine has been vital to the region's development, as has olive oil, another product of excellence from this part of the country.

The beauty of the landscape is a further source of attraction for the many tourists who visit. Of special note in the interior of the Alentejo are the vast fields of golden cereals which in the colder months turn into a bright green. On the long coastline you can find some of the most idyllic beaches in Portugal, a number of which lie within the South West Alentejo Nature Reserve, and much sought after by surfers. An important biological reserve which, in addition to its ecological diversity, is a favourite spot among birdwatchers.

Any visit to the Alentejo should include a trip to places such as Marvão, a town in the foothills of the Sapoio Mountain Range which grew around its castle, Moura, where the Muslim influence is still evident even today and Évora, capital of the region. In the historical centre of Évora, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO since 1986, you can see the remains of cultures as  diverse as Arabic, Celtic, Roman and Jewish. 

If you are looking for serenity or thrills, culture or leisure, heritage or the best in wining and dining, head for one of the most authentic regions of Portugal, the Alentejo.

Discover this region and stay at one of the many hotels in Alentejo or the north which we have selected for you.