Click the image to download a map of Alentejo (PDF)
More than any other part of Portugal, Alentejo gives the visitor a real opportunity to experience authentic local culture and customs.
Holidays in Portugal usually revolve around the sandy beaches of the Algarve. But little over one hour from Lisbon lies Alentejo, a rural region bursting with history, culture and gastronomy that still feels largely undiscovered.
The Capital city of Alentejo is Évora, which is a Unesco World Heritage site.
Alentejo has something for every season of the year. The region’s vineyards give up their bounty in autumn to produce 40% of Portugal’s wine. The olive groves are harvested in winter, wild flowers come to life in spring and summer cereal crops turn the fields to gold.
Sun seekers can laze on the sandy beaches and secret coves of the region’s 165km coastline.
Alentejo is famous for its vineyards, many of which are open to the public. The complex red wines and the green white wines are some of the best in the world. The rich cuisine reflects the agricultural nature of life in the region. The visitor can taste the best of local produce from the rich meat dishes to the wide variety of fish and vegetarian fare. And lets not forget the bread, present at every meal and baked in a wood oven. It can be served plain with olive oil or enjoyed with rosemary and black olive paste.
