Alentejo
Hidden pearl on the Portuguese coast
Portugal’s coast has a lot to offer.
© DaLiu/Shutterstock.com
Portugal is more than Lisbon and Porto. In the south, a pearl is waiting to be discovered. Welcome to the Alentejo region!
Portugal is the new Italy, Alentejo is the new Algarve. So far not many globetrotters have discovered the region in the south. From this point of view, the Alentejo on the Portuguese Atlantic coast is a real insider tip.
The natural paradise with its approximately 180 km long Atlantic coast is an hour’s drive from Lisbon. According to “Forbes Magazine”, the Alentejo is one of the absolute trend destinations for 2023 – and not without reason: the local beaches have so far been almost untouched and lead to a hinterland with vineyards and olive plantations. The cities of Évora, Beja and Portalegre as well as the municipality of Monsaraz are comfortably embedded in it.
On a discovery tour in the Unesco World Heritage Site
The many historical buildings such as castles, palaces, fortresses and monasteries give an insight into the history of the country. The Alentejo was inhabited as early as the Neolithic Age. The Romans settled in Évora and built the “Temple of Diana” and the foundations of the Elvas aqueduct. Évora, with its almost 60,000 inhabitants, is always worth a detour: the historic core has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. It may sound a bit spooky, but you should definitely visit the “Praça do Giraldo” square with the marble fountain and the “Capela dos Ossos” (Chapel of Bones) ossuary.
In addition to the exciting history, the region offers a lot, especially in culinary terms. In the last century, the Alentejo has further expanded its wine expertise and was gradually discovered for top viticulture. Since the 1990s, more and more winemakers and companies have settled here. The focus is primarily on the production of red wine, but white wines are also produced. Many of the wineries are also ideal places to stay for tourists and usually present their wines together with excellent Portuguese cuisine. Hospitality is very important here.