The Alentejo is Portugal's quiet soul: a vast plain of golden wheat, cork oaks and olive trees, dotted with whitewashed villages. At its centre stands Évora, a UNESCO city where two thousand years of history fit within the walls. Here you learn that travelling also means slowing down.
The Roman Temple
Raised in the 1st century, the Temple of Diana is the best preserved on the Iberian Peninsula. Its Corinthian columns survived because, for centuries, the temple was walled up and used as a butcher's shop — an irony that saved it from ruin. Around it stand Évora Cathedral and the former archbishop's palace.
The Chapel of Bones
Few places strike you like the Chapel of Bones, lined with the bones of some five thousand people. At the entrance, an unforgettable line: "We bones that are here await yours." A Franciscan memento mori, more reflective than macabre.
In the Alentejo time stretches out. You eat slowly, speak slowly, and the Alentejo chant — a UNESCO heritage — fills the silence.
Alentejo wine
The Alentejo is now one of Portugal's most awarded wine regions. Full-bodied reds of Alicante Bouschet and Aragonez, fresh whites of Antão Vaz. Many estates have revived the ancient tradition of talha wines, fermented in clay amphorae as in Roman times. A cellar visit with a tasting is a must.
The Alentejo table
Few regional cuisines are so rich. Try migas, açorda, lamb stew, pork Alentejo-style (with clams) and, to finish, convent sweets: sericaia with Elvas plum. The local bread and olive oil are a meal in themselves.
Beyond Évora
- Monsaraz — a medieval hilltop village overlooking the vast Alqueva lake.
- Almendres Cromlech — one of Europe's largest megalithic sites, older than Stonehenge.
- Arraiolos — famous for its hand-embroidered rugs.
How to get there
Évora is about 1h30 from Lisbon. It's a perfect destination for a well-used day or a weekend escape. Our Évora tour covers the city essentials and a wine tasting, with a private driver so you can enjoy it unhurried. See our services or contact us for a tailor-made itinerary.
