Travel to Portugal

Mértola

The town’s main attraction is its castle, built by the Moors, with a guard tower from the 13th-century. The main church, with its sculpted façade, contains elements from the Manueline period, occupies the site of what once was an ancient mosque. Mértola has three important museum sites as a consequence of the intense archeological activity there. The Roman museum occupies the Town Hall building. The Islamic collection includes the country’s most important archive of ceramic objects (9th to 13th-centuries). Here too is one of the rarest early Christian basilicas in the entire Iberian peninsula (dating from the 5th-century).

Evora

Museum town of Roman origins, with historic center classified in UNESCO's International Heritage list. It was taken from the Moors in 1166 by an outlaw knight, Gerald the Fearless, who scaled the walls at night on a ladder of lances. Évora later became a popular residence of Portuguese kings. What to see: Roman temple; Cathedral, housing Sacred Art Museum (Roman-Gothic); S. Brás Chapel (Gothic Moorish); S.Francisco Church (with Capela dos Ossos) and St.John the Baptist Church (Gothic-Manueline); churches of Nossa Senhora da Graca (with convent), St.Antão and S.Vicente (Renaissance). Palaces: Archiepiscopal, Dom Manuel and Dukes of Cadaval. Special reference also to: Praça de Giraldo, with medieval arches; Aqueduct; Convents of St.Clara, St.Helena do Calvário and Lóios (this one currently a Pousada); University; ancient Jewish quarter; Évora Museum. Guided Tours (departing from Lisbon)

Estremoz

Besides the large cities , very few Portuguese towns have been the setting for as many dramatic moments of our national history as Estremoz. What to see: Town is crowned by a 13th century castle, with a citadel and St.lsabel Chapel .Special reference to the Gothic Dom Dinis Palace, S.Francisco Church and Convent , Pacos do Concelho ,Maltesas Convent and the Municipal Museum. The church of the Misericórdia located on Estremoz's large market square was once a convent of the Knights of Malta.

Elvas

Famous for its sugar plums, Elvas is also a citadel, whose Spain-facing fortifications match those of Badajoz across the border. Three imposing gates lead into the city which, during its long and chequered history, has been besieged by Moors, Spaniards, Frenchmen and Englishmen. What to see: Romano-Moorish in origin, Elvas Castle was rebuilt for King Sanco III in 1226. The 16th-century octagonal church of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos is one of the prettiest sights in Portugal. Its main appeal lies in the fine marble columns and spectacular yellow and blue azulejo glazed tiles added in the 17th century.

Castelo de Vide

Located among olive groves and chestnut trees in the cool mountain region of São Mamede, Castelo de Vide is often referred to as the Sintra of the Alentejo. Scattered with monuments, this pretty spa town is a place of roses, fountains, orchards and old houses. Steep alleyways lead up to the castle through a 16th-century village, which is enriched with some of the most impressive Gothic entrances in Portugal. What to see: King Denis began building the castle but it was his son, Afonso IV, who completed it in 1327. It was successfully defended by an Anglo-Portuguese force against the Spanish in June 1704. The town's oldest chapel, the 13th-century Salvador do Mundo, boasts a much-admired painting called Flight into Egypt by an unknown artist. The Jewish Quarter located in the east side of the Medieval town has cobble streets

Monsaraz

Perched above the River Guardiana on the frontier with Spain, the tiny medieval walled town of Monsaraz is one of the most atmospheric places in the Alentejo. With its narrow cobbled lanes, low-rise old houses and an imposing castle, visitors are offered a feel of medieval Portugal in one of the oldest places in the country. Regained from the Moors in 1167, the town was handed over to the Knights Templar before Dom Dinis added the castle and fortified walls in the 14th century. What to see: The parish church of Santa Maria do Castelo houses an ornate marble tomb dating from the 13th century. Next door is a religious museum containing a 14th century fresco of a judge being simultaneously tempted by the devil and encouraged by the majestic justice of Christ.

REGIONAL GASTRONOMY

In this region, the cuisine is also particularly varied and flavourful. You can choose to try the stewed eels, the shad soup or the Tagus lamprey, the sausages from Castelo de Vide, from Nisa, from Arronches or from Arraiolos, or the kid stews, the hare with the red beans and the fried rabbit with Alentejo olive oil. Do try the delicious regional bread, that you can add to the sheep cheeses from Serpa, Nisa of from Évora or the Alandroal goat cheese. In this regíon you will also find an enormous variety of cakes and pastries, such as the "ceIestes" from Santarém, the "palha" from Abrantes, the "ímperial" cakes from Almeirim, those from Évora baked with eggs and almond paste, and the convent pastries from Portalegre and from Beja. Do not forget the fruit: the melon from Almeirim and from Alpiarça are rightly famous. Try also the Cartaxo wines and those from Almeirim, Borba, Reguengos and Vidígueira.

Torrão

Situated at one tip of the Vale de Gaio dam, this tiny town has bleached white houses with enormous chimneys to characterise its streets. The matrix church boasts a lovely Manueline portico and, inside, still has Spanish-Arabian tiles in the lateral chapels. Of what remains of the convent, there is still the belvedere where nuns could look out over the fields of sunflowers that both then and now surround this charming place

Vila Viçosa

Dukes Palace, with Renaissance façade and Museum-Library. Other places of interest: Castle (13th-14th cent., with St.Maria Church); St. Agostinho Church (13th-18th cent.); Chagas de Cristo Convent (Pousada); Nossa Senhora da Esperança Monastery; Castelo Novo (Renaissance). Accommodation: Quinta do Colmeal (Self catering), Pousada Dom João IV.

Sines

Is part of the St. Vincent and Southwest Alentejo Coast Natural Park, one of the best-preserved coast areas in Europe. There are some of the finest Portuguese beaches ("praias"), small bright sand sheets among huge rocks creating an ambience of intimacy and exclusiveness (The best beaches are Praia Grande de Porto Covo, Praia da Ilha, Praia de Morgavel).