A fascinating region rich in history
The Alentejo is a charming region with a rich history that runs through thousands of years. Its landscapes, architectural heritage, culture and monumental legacies are all unique and exceptional. UNESCO has recognised so much of this treasured heritage and awarded protected status to many aspects. The region also offers some of the most stunning natural surroundings in which to enjoy them. Be as active as you like. Immerse yourself in nature. This is an open-air playground in an unspoilt landscape of vines, cork oaks and olive trees, wild flower meadows and swaying sunflowers. This is an epic countryside of open plains, wild mountains, stunning beaches, vast lakes and tranquil farmlands; a diverse range of habitats for a unique variety of wildlife.
The Roman Empire Influence
The Romans occupied Portugal for more than 700 years, from the 3rd century BC to the 4th century AD, building cities, establishing civil government, farming the land, and connecting settlements with a network of roads. Rome left lasting imprints: wine production, the use of aqueducts such as those in Evora and Elvas, and Portugal’s Latin-based language. Even the characteristic calçada pavements are thought to have their origin in Roman mosaics. The Doors of Évora were inserted in the West-East axis. The Roman Arch is attached to the Castle. It is the only existing example that bears witness to the application of the ideal Roman city model, which consisted of the intersection of two main roads oriented in the West-East direction and in the North-South direction. The application of this system resulted in a geometrically organized urban space
Agua de Prata Aqueduct
This aqueduct is located in beautiful Évora. It is, for its size, one of the most impressive monuments in the city. It doesn’t let us forget the ingenuity that was once required to provide the people in Evora with water since ancient times. For that and other reasons, the aqueduct has been considered a Portuguese National Monument since 1910. The construction of Agua de Prata Aqueduct was started by King João III in 1532. Under the direction of the royal architect Francisco de Arruda, 11mi (18km) of which were built starting in Divor estate, where it gets its supply of water, and sent all the way to the centre of Evora. The piping and granite arches in Renaissance style were most probably laid over the old Roman aqueduct. Finished in 1537, the inauguration of Agua de Prata Aqueduct was a great ceremony held in the presence of the King and his court in Giraldo Square, where a marble fountain with lions was built, as well as a Roman triumph arch (both replaced later in the remodelling of the square. Where the lions fountain once was, we can now see the Giraldo Square fountain. But this aqueduct still had other parts that, apart from the obvious function, made the historic centre of Evora even more interesting. Until 1873, there was a beautiful Renaissance gantry called Fecho Real do Aqueduto (the Royal Finishing of the Aqueduct) near São Francisco Church. In Rua Nova (New Street) a Renaissance style Water Box was also built. Nowadays it doesn’t have all of its sides anymore but you can still see it, with all its 12 Tuscan columns. Some of the most obvious alterations in Agua de Prata Aqueduct throughout the centuries were the several fountains added along the passage in Evora’s historic centre. These received their water because of gravity. Examples of additions are Portas de Moura fountain, the one in Giraldo Square, in Portas de Avis, in Chão das Covas and the fountain and tanks in Rossio de S. Brás. In the 17th century, it was necessary to restore the aqueduct due to the Guerras da Restauração (the Wars of Succession and Restoration movement). Other construction works occurred in the 19th and 20th century but they didn’t change the general original drawings. The most recent intervention in this monument was recently made, when an Evora nature trail was created and the fields on either side of its whole extension were cleaned. The Percurso da Água de Prata (Agua de Prata Walking and Cycling Route) follows the aqueduct during 5.1mi (8.3km) through cork oak forests and farms.
The Ponte Romana do Rio Brenhas (Roman bridge of Rio Brenhas)
This bridge is sometimes known simply as the Ponta Romana de Moura or Ponte de Moura. It was built during the Roman occupation of the Iberian peninsula, that crosses the River Brenhas in the civil parish of Moura (Santo Agostinho e São João Baptista) e Santo Amador in the municipality of Moura in the Portuguese district of Beja. It was constructed during the Roman occupation, and integrated with the Via de Ebora, that began in the Rossio do Carmo and extended to the port of Ébora, along the Guadiana River, linking the Roman villa along the Ribeira de Ardila. The bridge is located off the EN255 roadway, along a dirt road upon exiting the city of Moura in the direction of Amareleja. It is situated along an isolated, rural plain surrounded by olive orchards and dense vegetation.
O Sobreiro…Quercus Suber L…aka the CORK tree:
O Sobreiro…Quercus Suber L…aka the CORK tree: As you ride through Portugal, particularly the Alentejo and Algarve regions, you will see gnarly, reddish rather sculptural but ugly oak trees sporting large numbers in white paint on their trunks. These are the Quercus Suber, an evergreen Oak tree, dropping acorns and growing a thick bark that is commonly known as a cork tree. It is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and a multitude of other uses, such as cork flooring and for the cores of cricket balls. Portugal produces about half the world output of commercial cork, and its exports over recent years have accounted for around 70 percent of world trade. The Tree Cork Oak is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa where it is well suited to this climate: an abundant and evenly distributed rainfall, short summer dry periods tempered by atmospheric humidity, very mild winters, clear skies and plenty of sunshine, very permeable, moist and deep siliceous soils. A fascinating and important tree, Cork Oaks can support diverse ecosystems and for this reason are a protected species, with their harvesting process being heavily legislated and regulated in Portugal. It is said, that there are about 50 million registered cork trees in the country. The species, which covers approximately 8 percent of the total area of Portugal and constitutes 28 percent of its forests , grows best in the central and southern parts of the country where the largest stands supplying the greatest percentage of high-grade cork are to be found. The Harvest Every year from Mid-May to Mid-August , well-trained seasonal harvesters stage their harvest of the Cork Oak in Portugal. Once a tree is about 25 years old it can be harvested for its ‘virgin cork’ and then every 9 years after the cork ‘bark’ is harvested, and the year is marked on the tree with the last number of that year (ie. A tree harvested this summer will be painted with a 9). Portuguese law prohibits stripping the trees more than once every nine years in order to protect the species. It is that the age of 38 years that the bark (roughly the third harvest) becomes of high enough quality to produce wine stoppers. The harvest of the height of the tree is determined by the diameter, if the tree is 1 metre in diameter, you can harvest three metres of the height of the tree. A Cork Oak lives for about 150 – 200 years on average meaning that it will be harvested about 15 times over its lifecycle. The Process After harvest, trucks carry the cork to plants to be stabilised and prepared for cork stopper and other production processes. First, the slabs of bark are pressed under concrete slabs for 6 months, the cork is then sterilized using a big boiler. Next, the cork is classified into quality grades for different uses, with experienced cork workers visually assessing the quality of the bark. Wine cork stoppers are made in the north of Portugal and then exported all over Europe. The residual cork wood can be used for flooring and building materials, furniture, home accessories, other construction materials and so much more; but also a new market in cork-based eco-fashion has become a trend in recent years. The Industry The European cork industry produces 300,000 tonnes of cork a year, with a value of €1.5 billion and employing 30,000 people. Wine corks represent 15% of cork usage by weight but 66% of revenues. Of the producing countries, Portugal, plays an important part in the industrial utilization of cork, and so rightly occupies the foremost position. It has 500 factories, which employ about 20,000 workers, equipped with the latest machinery and utilizing the latest technological advances, enabling the industry to meet the demand for any product. This industry produces stoppers, discs, different types of floats, shoe soles, printing paper, cigarette tips, bath mats, table mats, hat bands, fishing rod handles, different kinds of packing. Cork wool is produced for cushions and mattresses and granulated cork employed chiefly as insulating material in ship-building, as a protective packing for fruit and eggs, and as tubing for plastic substances. The Biggest Cork Tree Near the Portuguese town of Águas de Moura the Sobreiro Monumental (Monumental Cork Oak) you will find the oldest recorded Cork Oak Tree. It is 234 years old, 16 metres (52 ft) tall and has a trunk that requires at least five people to embrace it. Otherwise known as the Whistler Tree, it was planted in 1789 and its trunk diameter measures 4.15 meters. It has been considered a National Monument since 1988, and the Guinness Book of Records states it as the largest and oldest in the world. The Whistler Cork Oak is named after the sound of the countless birds that perch in its branches. The bark of the tree has been stripped more than 20 times since it was planted
Almendres Cromlech – Alentejo region in prehistoric times
The StoneHenge of Portugal: There are few places with such a powerful mystique that not even time itself can change. The Almendres Estate, located in the parish of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, proudly holds one of these rare monuments. One from magical old forgotten times. It plays with our imagination and transports us to its origins. A living memory which awaits you near Evora and is known worldwide. The Cromlech of Almendres was discovered in 1964 by the investigator Henrique Leonor Pina, while he was working on the Geologic map of Portugal. In Portugal, it was classified as property of public interest in 1974, being the largest enclosure of menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula. In 2015, it was reclassified as a National Monument. Today, it is part of the Megalithic Circuit in Evora and Alentejo. Approximately 7,000 years ago, during the neolithic period, the Iberian Peninsula witnessed the progressive sedentism of its peoples. From hunters who followed seasonal migrations of their preys, human beings started to cultivate their own lands and breed their own animals to shepherd and eat. So, populations with safe roots and well-defined personalities started to grow. They were different, according to the places where they settled and the traditions which they gradually developed. The Almendres Cromlech is a clear reflection, and one of gigantic proportions, of the era of pagan enchantment, known as the New Stone Age. Built towards the sunrise and sunset, this megalithic enclosure (mega=big; litho=stone) is located on a gentle slope on Almendres Estate. A place that could very well represent Alentejo. Formed by two distinct enclosures, built between the end of the 6th and the 3rd millennium BC, this cromlech is one of the biggest and most important megalithic monuments in the world. It is much older than the famous Stonehenge. At its peak, the archeological complex of Almendres Cromlech would have more than a hundred monoliths, granite stones of various sizes. All laid in a circular or elliptical shape. Out of the hundred, ninety five are left today, in perfect state of conservation. And you can visit them every time you feel like it. The Cromlech of Almendres was erected in 3 stages. The 3 concentric circles of monoliths shaped like an egg go back to the Early Neolithic. The complex of 2 irregular ellipses was built during the Middle Neolithic. In the last part of the Neolithic period, both enclosures were modified into the shape they still keep nowadays. Although the monoliths mostly have an oval shape, there are many megaliths (bigger stones) with a phallic form. One of these lifted stones is huge. Intimately connected to the cromlech, but isolated from it, this stone is called Almendres Menhir. During the summer solstice, when seen from the cromlech, the Almendres Menhir points to the sunrise. Although the true function of the Cromlech and the Almendres Menhir is not clear, the strong bond they both have with agriculture and herding seems to be undeniable. One of the most important historians in Portugal, the late Professor José Hermano Saraiva, believed that the impregnating of the earthly womb with stone phalluses was some sort of cult to the fertilisation of the earth with cultivation in mind. The Menhir and several other erected stones of the Almendres Cromlech have embossed decorations which also remind us of ploughing and cattle raising. These are called crosiers, in other words, engravings shaped to look like a shepherd’s cane. Other predominant engravings on the menhirs of this monument are wavy and radial lines, circles and dimples. Today, the menhirs are all numbered. The must-see decorated ones are number 5, 13, 48, 56, 57, 58, 64 and 76. The Cromlech of Almendres is surrounded by an aura of mysticism and enchantment, the Almendres Cromlech is a true time machine. Walking through the menhirs is going back to a simple and peaceful period, the era of the druids and bonding with nature
“Fortificação Abaluartada de Estremoz – Porta dos Currais
In the Restoration Wars there was an obvious need to defend the Kingdom from the Spanish offensive, especially in frontier towns and cities. It is in this context that several fortifications were built in these locations, namely in Estremoz. Not being exactly a frontier village, it functioned as the territory’s 2nd line of defense, especially in terms of logistical support (weapons, supplies and troops warehouse). It was D. João IV (r. 1640-1656), the first of the Braganzas to reign in Portugal, who, in 1642 ordered João Pascácio Cosmander to design the future polygonal wall with bastions in Estremoz. This work would protect the town from hypothetical attacks and advances by Spanish troops, and the new bastions were adapted for heavy artillery battles. The door of the Currais was designed around 1670 by the engineering sergeant-major António Rodrigues and stands out for its monumentality and artistic composition, with an imperial eagle and griffins stepping on artillery pieces
Roman Temple of Évora
Known as the Temple of Diana, this 1st-century Roman temple is Évora’s most iconic monument and a symbol of Roman Portugal. The Historic Center of Évora is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, It’s one of the best-preserved ruins in the Iberian Peninsula, and originally part of the forum dedicated to emperor Augustus. Traditionally, however, it has been believed to be dedicated to Diana, the goddess of hunting. Time as well as the Germanic invasions in the 5th century have knocked down some of its Corinthian columns, but the majority (14 of the 18) still stand on the 3m(10ft)-high stone podium, which was originally surrounded by a reflecting pool. When Évora became a Christian city, the temple was used for different purposes, like a gallows during the Inquisition and as a slaughterhouse until 1836, when it was decided that it should be preserved as a historic monument. It stands in the middle of a landscaped square, faced by the beautiful Loios Church and the 14th-century Cadaval Palace on one side, and the Évora Museum on another.
Fortificação Abaluartada de Estremoz – Porta dos Currais
In the Restoration Wars there was an obvious need to defend the Kingdom from the Spanish offensive, especially in frontier towns and cities. It is in this context that several fortifications were built in these locations, namely in Estremoz. Not being exactly a frontier village, it functioned as the territory’s 2nd line of defense, especially in terms of logistical support (weapons, supplies and troops warehouse). It was D. João IV (r. 1640-1656), the first of the Braganzas to reign in Portugal, who, in 1642 ordered João Pascácio Cosmander to design the future polygonal wall with bastions in Estremoz. This work would protect the town from hypothetical attacks and advances by Spanish troops, and the new bastions were adapted for heavy artillery battles. The door of the Currais was designed around 1670 by the engineering sergeant-major António Rodrigues and stands out for its monumentality and artistic composition, with an imperial eagle and griffins stepping on artillery pieces.
The Lusitano Horse
The origins of the Lusitano breed remain a mystery, but its history can be traced right back to 3,000 BC, making it one of the oldest saddle horses in the world. A native of the arid, sun-scorched plains of the south-west Iberian Peninsula, the Lusitano has trotted into the 21st century with consummate ease, retaining all of the splendour it enjoyed in Greek and Roman times when it was considered the best horse for combat and hunting. Hannibal himself is believed to have assembled 12,000 Lusitanos for his Italian campaign and there have been countless references to the horse in literature over the millennia, most notably Homer’s Iliad, which bears full testimony to its ancestral bravery. The Lusitano’s qualities in combat so impressed the Moors during their invasion of the Iberian Peninsula that they called it the ‘Son of the Wind’. The horse was also considered a treasured gift by the Califs who valued it as highly as precious jewels, plus it was greatly prized by the Italian nobility of the 15th century. In Portugal, the golden age of breeding Lusitanos was during the 18th century when the first royal stud farms were established. Today, the horse’s unique attributes and aptitudes enable it to compete at the highest level in equestrian events all over the world. It is also a much sought-after saddle horse for both sport and leisure, as well as a stud horse for its strong character and long genetic ancestry. Most top Lusitano breeding centres are located in the Ribatejo and Alentejo regions of central and southern Portugal and due to the rise in demand for this very special animal, its numbers are thankfully increasing. Portugal’s pure-bred Lusitanos have a well-proportioned head with almond-shaped eyes and a medium-length neck that is finely-arched with a narrow hairline. Besides having a muscular chest, their croup (or rump) is strong, rounded and well-balanced. The average height of a Lusitano horse is 1.6m for males and 1.55 for mares with the most prized colours being grey and bay, although black, chestnut and white are also very popular. As a rule, young stallions are broken in at the age of three to three-and-a-half years old. The most spectacular showcase of the Lusitano is the annual horse fair in Golegã in autumn, giving visitors the chance to see the Lusitano in all its glory. Regular displays can also be seen in Lisbon at the Picadeiro Henrique Calado (indicated on the map below) located at Calcada da Ajuda near Belém and occasionally in the gardens of Queluz Palace. In the bullfighting ring the Lusitano is able to demonstrate for the public its agility and skill. While the ring is large and round, the horse has to be brave enough to face a charging bull and respond immediately to his riders command to turn or pivot out of the way. You are sure to spot a Lusitano or Andalusian. Commonly the movies will use gray, bay or black horses, especially so for movies or shows that are set in Medieval time periods. And finally, The Portuguese School of Equestrian since its re-establishment, in 1979, the school has been dedicated to preserving Portugal’s fabulous heritage in equestrian traditions. It is a recreation of the 18th century Portuguese equestrian academy of the royal court, Real Picaria. The original maroon velvet costumes, the tricorn hats and tack used has undergone very few changed and the horses ridden today are from the same stud farm as previously. The riders of the school follow the principles as laid out in the book, Luz da Liberal e Nobre Arte da Cavallaria (1790)
Alentejo – Portugal’s barn
Alentejo was, even back then, a rich source of wheat, in fact a fundamental cereal for Rome. Panem et circenses (bread and circus) is a Roman saying that really expresses the two ways the emperors had to please and control their subjects at the time. Alentejo wheat, and there was plenty and it was tasty, became the vital link in the pacification of the Roman people during the several romanisation centuries in Lusitania. It was so essential that, when Evora was elevated to municipium, already during Pax Romana, in the 1st century of the Roman era, Emperor Julius Caesar himself named it Ebora Liberalitas Julia – Evora, the Liberty of Julius (Caesar). Hence, the main reason as to why the Romans completely dominated the Iberian Peninsula until the 3rd century AD, leaving their influence well present on roads, buildings and mostly on the Portuguese language (of Latin origin). Today, the Alentejo is the largest of the Portuguese regions with more than 28 thousand square kilometres stretching from the coast to the Spanish border. This region lies within the dry Iberia being subjected to a Mediterranean climate characterised by low rainfall and a very long summer-like weather that can reach 4 to 5 months. The lack of rain also matches the hottest periods that can easily surpass 40ºC. Still today, many refer the Alentejo to “Portugal’s barn”, and it comes from the old days when the plains were all covered in wheat and barley. Although the cereal culture has lost some ground to other cultures, such as cork oaks and olive trees, it still stands strong among them as the region’s symbol and a source of livelihood. Especially barley, which is a cereal belonging to the wheat family, and it was, remains one of the most consumed by mankind. Well-known for its use in beer brewing, it is a versatile product also used in bread making, and its grains can be a part of delicious recipes
The Poupa – Eurasian Hoopoe
The Hoopoe is an iconic and unmistakable bird that provides the sound back-drop to nearly all the safari documentaries – even though the Hoopoe you hear in the background of those documentaries is the African Hoopoe, strictly speaking a different species. The bird has a salmon pink neck, chest and belly, (as opposed to the orange tinge of the African Hoopoe), a large crest that is flattened in flight and normally at other times also, (but is always raised upon alighting as well as various other times), and the rest of the bird is full-bodied black and white striped wings. It has a fluttery and easily recognised flight pattern, rather like a butterfly in some respects; it feeds on insects caught by stalking on the ground. Hole nesting, is usually done in a tree, but at other times in stone walls and even on occasion at ground level.
Marvāo
Geographically, Marvão is a point of natural strategic defense marked by steep slopes to the north, south and west. Access on foot is only possible from the east, which was the direction in which the town gradually spread. This fact did not go unnoticed by both conquerors and kings, who always took care to strengthen both the castle and its walls. It played a fundamental role in major military conflicts, including the fight between the king D. Dinis and his brother D. Afonso (1299), the Dynastic Crisis of 1383-85, the Wars for the Restoration of Independence (1640-68), the War of Spanish Succession (1704-12) and the Peninsular Wars (1807-11). Marvão’s importance was recognised when it was raised to the status of a town by D. Sancho II, in 1266. The charter was renewed in 1299, and a New Charter was granted by D. Manuel, in 1512, who left his mark on the town with the building of the Pillory and the placing of the royal coat of arms on the Town Hall. Inside the walls, of this castly, are narrow streets lined with the beautiful popular houses that are typical of the Alentejo. Amidst them, it is easy to find Gothic arches, Manueline windows, wrought-iron balconies and other embellishments in the nooks and crannies of the buildings made from the local granite. Besides the castle and the walls that no visitors to the town will ever forget, Marvão’s architectural heritage includes the Igreja de Santa Maria, a church that has been transformed into the Municipal Museum. Other monuments to visit that are impressive are: the Igreja de Santiago, the Renaissance Capela do Espírito Santo and the Convento de Nossa Senhora da Estrela, all strategically set outside the walls. The city of Marvão holds a Chestnut Festival, in November, an excellent occasion for visiting the town and getting to know more about its people and the local customs.
Arabic Influence
The Arabs arrived in the Alentejo in the 8th century and ruled until 1249 when the Reconquista brought the last of their lands into the new kingdom of Portugal. This period saw a boom in learning and arts, with the introduction of decorated ceramic tiles, or azulejos, as well as weaving of tapestries and carpets, leather goods and jewelry crafting. Today, the narrow streets and cobbled alleys of simple, white washed homes, a common feature of the Alentejo’s fortified hilltop villages, are a legacy of the period. One of the best-known Moorish remains is the church at Mértola, where the slender columns, Islamic ‘keyhole’ doorways and architecture give away the fact that it was once a mosque, dating from the 12th century. The Moors would leave a cultural impression on the place names, language and food. Many Arabic words remain in Portuguese. Words as simple as Bairro (neighborhood), cabide (hanger), sofá (sofa), marfim (ivory) and almofada (pillow). Oxalá – comes from insha’Allah — meaning “God willing.” And then there are names of places, most towns south of the Tejo have Arab or Roman names. There are the remains of buildings, such as the ruined castles in Alcáçar and Moura, and the only still-standing mosque in Mértola. Throughout Alentejo and the Algarve, you will notice the beautifully designed minaret shaped chimneys on the houses. And, the cataplana, a clam shell shaped pressure cooker made of copper is not unlike a Moroccan tagine. The Moors gave Portugal lemons, cilantro, and raisins. In fact, there is a cilantro line in Portugal, the herb is used mostly South of the Tejo.
OUR LADY OF CONCEIÇÃO CONVENT
The Convent of Nossa Senhora da Conceição was founded by order of the first Dukes of Beja, D. Fernando and D. Brites, parents of Queen D. Leonor and King D. Manuel, and was one of the richest convents in the south of the country. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the city of Beja was the scene of major property destruction and from this former convent only the church, the cloister, the chapter room and adjacent rooms survived. Currently, the Regional Museum of Beja (Museu Rainha D. Leonor) is installed there, whose estate is composed of important collections, highlighting those of tiles, sacred art, painting and archeology.
The South West Alentejo and the Vicentina Coast Natural Park
These areas of Portugal the finest preserved stretch of European coastlines, covering over 100 km, from Porto Covo in the Alentejo, to Burgau in the Algarve. They include various unique species of animal and plant life, and is visited by many zoologists and botanists from all parts of the world. The landscape is marked by steep cliffs, , that have been given various forms and colouring by centuries of erosion. Many bird species can be seen, such as rare fishing eagles. The rarest species is the white stork, given that this is the only place in the world where they build their nests in the seashore rocks. Another rarity is the otter, since this is the only place in Portugal and one of the last places in Europe where it is possible to find otters in a marine habitat. Plant life includes the largest number of priority species in Portugal, including unique indigenous species such as Biscutella vicentina or Plantago Almogravensis. The beaches, are highly popular amongst surfers, and are the finest in the country. There is a tremendous variety of beaches, including long stretches of sand and small beaches nestled between the cliffs and rocks. The long list includes beaches such as Porto Covo, Malhão, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Almograve, Monte Clérigo, Arrifana and Praia do Amado. If you have the energy and desire to stray from the beaten track, albeit with difficult access, it’s possible to discover many other beaches that have been preserved in a virtually unspoilt state. One can spend unforgettable days in wild beaches, enjoying sunsets at the sea and visiting coastal towns and of course enjoy the incredible Portuguese gastronomy, along with their exquisite wines.
The Castle of Sines
It is a medieval castle that was restored several times along the years, located in the city of Sines, an important fishing port – the deepest in the country. The site was a natural lookout and defense point for the stretch of the coastline. Of the primitive castle the walls still remain with battlements and turrets, along with the the donjon and windows as well as the palace of the military commander. In the armory one can view interesting armour paintings, war trophies and the royal shield of Dom João V. Sines Castle has been classified as a Public Interest Property since 1933.
