Alentejo
White washed villages nestle amongst gentle hills.
The region of Alentejo which literally translates as "beyond the Tagus" is one of the most traditional regions of Portugal. Separated from the rest of the country by the river Tagus the region extends to the south where it joins the Algarve. To the east it borders Spain and to the west it is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean.
To view hotels in the Alentejo region, click here.
The varied landscape in Alentejo ranges from vast golden wheat fields to small white washed villages nestled amongst gentle hills dotted with olive trees and even rugged and secluded beaches along the coast still largely undiscovered by foreign tourism.
The two main cities in Alentejo are Évora and Beja, but don't miss the opportunity to see some of the smaller towns and charming villages. Inland the towns of Serpa, Moura and Reguengos de Monsaraz planted with extensive olive groves and producing some excellent wines are worth a visit, whilst an outing to the west should definitely encompass Alcácer do Sal, Santiago do Cacém and the fishing village of Vila Nova de Milfontes.
Throughout the Alentejo the arts and crafts skills are passed from one generation to another and you will come across the most creative traditional handicrafts such as pottery, leather items, rugs and tapestries.
A trip to Alentejo would not be complete without visiting one of the region's many vineyards and at Herdade do Esporão, located in Reguengos de Monsaraz, you can visit the winery, presses and filling plant as well as the cellars.
For a small charge you can also take a 45-minute tour of the estate by Jeep, visiting the vineyard, the 120-hectare olive groves supporting 4 varieties of olives that produce the in-house extra virgin olive oils, the archaeological museum and the Esporão dam, which is also a stopping point for migrating birds. Don't forget to take your camera.
In Alentejo you will find a slower pace of life, just what you need to wind down and get away from the stresses of modern life.
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