Alentejo strikes for the peacefulness of its natural landscape

From the beautiful old town of Évora – a UNESCO heritage site –with its Roman ruins and Renaissance palaces, to the quaint little villages perched on soft hills and the picturesque medieval towns, like Marvão and Monsaraz, which have remained untouched for centuries, Alentejo is pure delight.

Évora, the region’s capital, is the door to Alentejo. A historical city of narrow streets, impressive churches and whitewashed houses, it’s a melting pot of influences and periods. A culturally vibrant city – the Fundação Eugénio de Almeida and its museums are unmissable – Évora is a wonderful destination for food lovers too. Some of the finest gastronomic moments of Alentejo can be experienced at its tables, from upscale restaurants reinterpreting the region’s traditional cuisine, to small taverns serving petiscos and local dishes. 

Alentejo offers an array of authentic experiences for the well-traveled food and wine lovers. Get ready for a mouthwatering journey made of unforgettable farm to table experiences. From olive-picking, to visiting olive mills – among which are great examples of first-class contemporary architecture - to tasting the region’s best and most surprising olive oils. Wine tourism is another highlight, as Alentejo is Portugal’s vastest wine-producing region, known for its large family-owned estates or Herdades, traditional cellars and modern wineries, where you will do everything from handpicking grapes to learning how to combine autochthonous castas or grape varieties, to make great wines.

 While Alentejo strikes for the peacefulness of its natural landscape, with its soft, undulating plains, the region’s beautiful towns and small villages are equally enchanting. From Castelo de Vide, to Serpa and the Moorish style Mértola, more to the south, the “urban” context is varied and always surprising. Vila Viçosa, with the famous Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, which served as a royal residence, is a must-see. With its castle and imposing ramparts, Estremoz, another historical town of Alentejo is also worth the visit.