Alentejo

Alentejo

The Alentejo is divided into two halves – the northern region comprising low, gently-undulating hills; the southern region a vast flatland of huge farm estates that traditionally is the agricultural bread-basket of Portugal. In recent decades the Alentejo has languished as a poor rural backwater, but as a result its unique traditions remain firm, and a more enlightened view has begun to appreciate these as cultural assets to be preserved and promoted.

Tourism is still very low-key in the region, but those who do venture here discover a region ideal for day-trip exploring and getting away from it all. There are numerous well-preserved old towns offering a number of historical sites and countless whitewashed villages where traditional life remains little-changed.

Evora is the jewel in the Alentejo’s crown and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A beautiful and fascinating place, it is steeped in history dating from the Romans. In the south, the town of Beja boasts historical sites from Moorish times.

Along its coast in the west, the Alentejo boasts a string of spectacular dune beaches facing the Atlantic, popular with surfers and those tourists who seek a true escape.

In the east near Monsaraz, towards the Spanish border, the huge Alqueva dam project has created the largest man-made reservoir in Europe and is set to become a focal point for growth, including tourism and golf course developments.

For the moment, property prices in the Alentejo remain low, but this laid-back rural region is beginning to stir interest among those who seek an alternative to the Algarve’s cosmopolitan attractions.