Alentejo Portugal
3
Day Itinerary •
Portugal
Three days in the Alentejo reveals the most extraordinary and most undervisited region in Portugal, its remarkable landscape of golden cork oak plains, whitewashed hilltop villages and extraordinary megalithic monuments giving the most authentic and atmospheric rural experience in the country. The remarkable walled city of Evora, the finest medieval town in Portugal, anchors a remarkable region of outstanding natural and cultural beauty. This route covers the essential Alentejo experience: the extraordinary UNESCO city of Evora with its remarkable Roman temple, the haunting Bone Chapel and the finest cathedral in southern Portugal, the remarkable megalithic cromlechs of Almendres, the oldest stone circle in Europe, the extraordinary wine estates of the Alentejo and the remarkable hilltop villages of Monsaraz and Marvao.
Best Time To Visit
March to June or September to November
Getting There
Drive from Lisbon (1.5 hours) or Faro (2 hours). Bus from Lisbon.
Getting Around
Car essential. The Alentejo is vast and villages are spread out.
Budget Per Day
Approx 70 to 140 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy , mostly driving and village walking
DAY 1
EVORA
MORNING
EVORA ROMAN TEMPLE AND CATHEDRAL
The Roman Temple of Evora is the most extraordinary ancient monument in Portugal, its remarkable 14 Corinthian columns from the 1st century AD giving the finest Roman heritage in the country. The Se Cathedral of Evora, the finest Gothic cathedral in Portugal dating from 1186, contains the remarkable treasury with the finest religious art in southern Portugal. Entry approx 4 euros. Drive: Walk through old town
MIDDAY
THE BONE CHAPEL AND EVORA OLD TOWN
The Bone Chapel of the Royal Church of St Francis is the most extraordinary heritage site in Portugal, its remarkable walls and ceiling constructed from the bones of 5,000 monks giving the most unusual artistic statement in the country. The inscription above the door reads We bones that are here await yours. The medieval old town within the Roman walls is the finest in southern Portugal. Entry approx 5 euros. Drive: Walk to walls
AFTERNOON
EVORA CITY WALLS AND PRACA DO GIRALDO
The Evora city walls are the most extraordinary medieval fortification in the Alentejo, their remarkable circuit enclosing the entire UNESCO historic centre and giving the finest walk around a walled Portuguese city. The extraordinary Praca do Giraldo, the finest square in the Alentejo with its remarkable 16th-century fountain and the Igreja de Santo Antao, gives the finest town square experience in southern Portugal. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Jardim de Diana behind the Roman Temple in Evora is the finest hidden garden in southern Portugal, its remarkable terrace above the valley giving extraordinary views over the Alentejo plains from the most atmospheric corner of the UNESCO city. Almost entirely unvisited by tourists. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Praca do Giraldo Outstanding Portuguese coffee on the finest square in the Alentejo. The most atmospheric morning in southern Portugal. | Lunch: Tasca in Evora old town Outstanding Alentejan lunch with migas, carne de porco alentejana and excellent Alentejo red wine. | Dinner: Restaurant in Evora Outstanding Alentejan dinner in the finest medieval town in southern Portugal. Local black pork and Alentejo wine.
DAY 2
MEGALITHIC AND MONSARAZ
MORNING
ALMENDRES MEGALITHIC CROMLECH
The Almendres Cromlech is the most extraordinary megalithic monument in the Iberian Peninsula, its remarkable oval arrangement of 95 granite menhirs dating from 6000 BC giving the oldest stone circle in Europe and one of the most significant prehistoric sites in the world. The extraordinary alignment of the stones with astronomical events and the remarkable solitary menhir above the site give the finest megalithic experience in Portugal. Free. Drive: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
ANTA GRANDE DO ZAMBUJEIRO
The Anta Grande do Zambujeiro is the most extraordinary dolmen in Portugal, its remarkable burial chamber of enormous granite slabs dating from 4000 BC giving the largest megalithic monument in the Iberian Peninsula. The extraordinary scale of the capstone, weighing over 100 tonnes, and the remarkable atmosphere of the hidden field location give the finest megalithic heritage in the Alentejo. Free. Drive: 1 hr drive
AFTERNOON
MONSARAZ HILLTOP VILLAGE AND CASTLE
Monsaraz is the most extraordinary hilltop village in the Alentejo, its remarkable medieval fortified village above the extraordinary Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in Europe, giving the finest village views in southern Portugal. The extraordinary castle, the remarkable whitewashed streets and the fine Igreja Matriz church give the finest medieval village atmosphere in the Alentejo. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Menhir dos Almendres, the solitary standing stone on the hill above the Almendres Cromlech, is the finest single prehistoric monument in Portugal, its remarkable carved astronomical symbols giving the most extraordinary prehistoric art in the Alentejo. Free. 10-minute walk uphill from the cromlech.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before megalithic drive Early start for Almendres. The stone circle is extraordinary in the morning mist before any other visitors. | Lunch: Tasca near Monsaraz Outstanding Alentejan lunch in the extraordinary hilltop village region. Local cheese, cured meats and Alentejo wine. | Dinner: Restaurant in Evora Outstanding Alentejan dinner back in the extraordinary UNESCO city after the remarkable megalithic and village day.
DAY 3
WINE AND MARBLE
MORNING
ALENTEJO WINE ESTATE VISIT
The Alentejo wine region produces the most extraordinary red wines in Portugal, the remarkable combination of extreme heat, schist and clay soils and the ancient Alicante Bouschet and Aragonez grape varieties giving wines of extraordinary concentration and character. Herdade do Esporao or Herdade dos Grous offer the finest estate tours and tastings in the region. Tastings approx 10 to 20 euros. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
ESTREMOZ MARBLE TOWN
Estremoz is the most extraordinary marble town in Portugal, its remarkable upper town of extraordinary white marble buildings, the finest marble castle in the Alentejo and the remarkable Saturday market giving the finest market town experience in southern Portugal. The extraordinary Museu Municipal in the castle complex houses the finest collection of Alentejan painted clay figurines. The marble paving of the upper town is extraordinary. Museum entry approx 2 euros. Drive: 1 hr drive to Lisbon
AFTERNOON
RETURN VIA THE ALENTEJO PLAINS
driving The return drive to Lisbon or Faro through the extraordinary Alentejo cork oak plains gives the finest rural landscape in Portugal, the remarkable dehesa landscape of scattered holm and cork oaks across golden grassland being the finest traditional agricultural landscape in Europe. The extraordinary black pigs feeding on acorns beneath the oaks produce the finest presunto ham in Portugal. A remarkable farewell to the region. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Cromeleque do Vale Maria do Meio near Evora is the finest hidden megalithic monument in the Alentejo, its remarkable stone circle in a private cork oak estate giving the most atmospheric megalithic experience in the region. Visits by arrangement with the estate. Approx 5 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before wine estate Early start for the wine estate. The Alentejo vineyards are extraordinary in the morning light. | Lunch: Winery restaurant at the Alentejo estate Outstanding Alentejan lunch at the wine estate with local produce and the finest regional wines. | Dinner: Restaurant in Estremoz Outstanding Alentejan farewell dinner in the finest marble town in Portugal.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Evora, Nights 1 to 2 The finest base in the Alentejo. Hotels from 70 to 160 euros inside the Roman walls. Walking distance from all sites. Monsaraz, alternative The finest atmosphere. Small guesthouses from 60 to 140 euros. Extraordinary views over the Alqueva lake. Budget option Guesthouses in Evora from 40 euros. The walled city is compact and entirely walkable from any accommodation.
Top Tips
1. The Almendres Cromlech at sunrise is the finest experience in the Alentejo. Arrive before dawn, stand at the centre of the stone circle and watch the sun rise.
2. The Bone Chapel in Evora is extraordinary but the inscription above the door is the most important thing in the room. Take time to read and absorb it.
3. Monsaraz at sunset: the extraordinary views over the Alqueva lake turn golden at dusk. Stay until after sunset for the finest light in southern Portugal.
4. Alentejo wine is extraordinary. Trincadeira, Aragonez and Alicante Bouschet produce the finest reds in Portugal. Buy directly from the estate for the best price.
5. Alentejan cuisine: order migas (bread porridge), carne de porco alentejana (pork with clams), black pork black pudding and the extraordinary Serpa cheese.
6. The Alentejo cork oak landscape is the finest in Europe. The trees are stripped of bark every 9 years , the red exposed wood darkens to grey before the next harvest.
Total Budget
70 to 140 euros/day