A 3-day itinerary of historic towns and the natural beauty of the Alentejo

Évora and its medieval architecture

Évora is a historic city in the Alentejo region. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is famous for its medieval architecture, Baroque churches and sumptuous cathedral. Évora's bone chapel, Capela Dos Ossos, is recognised as one of the most beautiful ossuaries in the world. This religious edifice, made of human bones and skulls, attracts thousands of visitors every year. The first day is rich in historical discoveries. Walking along the cobbled streets of Évora, we soak up the authenticity of this typical Portuguese town.

Traditional Évora specialities

We eat at Taberna Típica Quarta-feira in the city centre, a small brick-built restaurant serving local specialities. It is open for lunch and dinner.

Two prehistoric UNESCO heritage sites

The prehistoric monuments of Cromeleque dos Almendres and Anta Grande do Zambujeiro are located in the Alentejo region, a 30-minute drive from Évora. Both megalithic sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and offer a fascinating insight into the region's prehistoric history. Cromeleque dos Almendres is a stone circle dating back to 5000 BC.C. It is made up of 95 standing stones and two menhirs, forming an impressive circle around 70 metres in diameter. Not far away, Anta Grande do Zambujeiro is a 7-metre long prehistoric tomb in the shape of a trapezium, said to have been built 4000 years B.C. These prehistoric monuments are unique and intriguing. Visiting these sites, which are thousands of years old, is an unforgettable experience for lovers of history and culture. In the evening, we head back to Évora for a night's sleep before hitting the road again the following day.

Monsaraz and its castle

As soon as we wake up, we head for the town of Monsaraz. The journey from Évora takes around 1 hour, and from the Monsaraz castle, built in the 13th century, we can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding area. We stroll through the town's cobbled streets before descending to Lake Alqueva for a local picnic, bought in the town's grocery shops.

Picnic at Lake Alqueva

Lake Alqueva is the largest artificial lake in Europe, located in southern Portugal. Created by the Alqueva dam on the River Guadiana, the lake covers more than 250 km2 and has more than 1,160 km of coastline.

It took us 20 minutes to get to the river beach on Lake Alqueva, Praia Fluvial Mourão, and we had a great time in the sun. The beach is quiet, with easy access and a gentle slope. Even though the water is rather cool, it's a wonderful place for a family day out.

The wines of the Alentejo

At the end of the afternoon, on the way back to Evora, we stopped off at the Cartuxa winery, not far from our destination. Here we sampled some delicious wines. Red wine lovers like us will be delighted to be able to taste these world-renowned wines.

On the last day of our itinerary, we decide to explore the landscapes of the Alentejo. We'll be heading towards the coast via the Sudoeste Alentejano Natural Park.

Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Natural Park

The Sudoeste Alentejano and Costa Vicentina Natural Park is a nature reserve in Portugal. It stretches for around 100 km along the Atlantic coast. Its breathtaking scenery of sheer cliffs, crystal-clear water and fine sandy beaches attracts surfers from all over the world. The park is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, with lush vegetation and rare animal species such as the Iberian lynx and the black stork. You can go hiking, birdwatching and swimming in the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The coastal town of Vila Nova and its white sandy beaches

In the afternoon, we visit Vila Nova de Milfontes. This seaside resort is famous for its beautiful beaches, including Praia das Furnas, Praia de Almograve and Praia do Malhão. The town also has a charming historic centre with cobbled streets, craft shops and traditional restaurants. We laze on the heavenly Praia de Furnas beach all afternoon.

Dinner by the sea

In the evening we treat ourselves to a meal at A Choupana, a chic restaurant in Vila Nova de Milfontes offering refined cuisine based on fresh local produce, with a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean.