Baixo Alentejo
Under construction at time of research, this new museum will house some of the great archaeological finds unearthed in Beja in recent years. Pieces date…
Must-see attractions in The Alentejo
Évora
The Moura Gate Sq stands just southeast of the cathedral. Near here was the original entrance to town. In the middle of the square is a strange-looking,…
Évora
If you're headed out to Cromeleque dos Almendres, it's worth stopping en route at the Menir dos Almendres, a single stone nearly 4m high, with some faint…
Alto Alentejo
The fascinating Dom Dinis walled hilltop castle was where the Bragança family lived before Paço Ducal was built. Part of it has been transformed into the…
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Alto Alentejo
Within the castle walls is this brilliantly tiled 15th-century church. It is also known as Solar da Padroeira, Home of the Patron Saint – the Virgin’s…
Alto Alentejo
By the castle is a small judiaria – the former Jewish district. A sizeable community of Jews settled here in the 12th century, then larger waves came in…
Baixo Alentejo
No traditional rural trade is overlooked in this exquisite exploration of Alentejan life. Occupying the former town market (in use from 1887 to 1986), the…
Évora
Just outside the walls to the northeast is the university’s main building (Colégio do Espírito Santo), a descendent (reopened in 1973) of the original…
Baixo Alentejo
Found just beyond the castle, the unusual Visigothic museum is housed in the former Igreja de Santo Amaro, parts of which date from the early 6th century,…
Baixo Alentejo
Dating from the 14th century, this imposing castle affords long views from the battlements: flat plains, the aqueduct, town walls, rooftops and orange…
Monsaraz
When you need a break from the heat, head down to this beach on the edge of Alqueva Lake. You can go for a swim (there are lifeguards in summer), hire…
Baixo Alentejo
The Watch Museum houses an amazing collection of watches and clocks – shared with its sister museum in Évora, dating from a 1630 Edward East clock to the…
Évora
Évora’s best-known church is a tall and huge Manueline-Gothic structure, completed around 1510 and dedicated to St Francis. Legend has it that the…
Palácio dos Marqueses da Praia e Monforte
Alto Alentejo
This former royal palace was recently restored and reopened to the public in 2015. It houses a changing array of exhibitions showcasing talented artists…
Centro Interpretativo do Tapete de Arraiolos
Alto Alentejo
Overlooking the town's main plaza, this polished, interactive museum delves into the rich history of Arraiolos' tapestry-making traditions, with beautiful…
Alto Alentejo
The castle dates from 1306, but was rebuilt after the 1531 earthquake. Exterior stone carving shows unwarlike small bows, the symbol of the Bragança…
Baixo Alentejo
Opposite the Lagar de Varas do Fojo, the Jardim das Oliveiras is home to various varieties of olive trees and herbs, and reflective space. It’s dedicated…
Évora
Painted on the garden walls of an open-vaulted gallery are a series of unusual 16th-century murals that were once part of a noble’s residence. Recently…
Vila Nova De Milfontes
If you have your own transport, head 7km north of town to the fantastic Praia do Malhão, backed by rocky dunes and covered in fragrant scrub. The sea can…
Mértola
This museum, north of the old town, features a partly reconstructed line of 6th-century Roman columns and poignant funerary stones, some of which are…
Vila Nova De Milfontes
On the left bank of the Rio Mira, Praia das Furnas is a long stretch of fine sand backed by small rocky cliffs. The sandbars in the area make for some…
Alto Alentejo
You can walk around the battlements at the castle for dramatic views across the baking plains. The original castle was built by the Moors on a Roman site…
Évora
In a building that once housed the Holy Office of Inquisition, this centre of arts and culture hosts some of Évora’s most thought-provoking art…
Alto Alentejo
It took an unsurprising 100 years or so to complete this breathtakingly ambitious aqueduct. Finished in 1622, the huge cylindrical buttresses and several…
Alto Alentejo
The Fernandina Tower was the result of alterations undertaken in the 14th century to the second Muslim wall. It served as a jail from the end of the 15th…
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Lagoa
Monsaraz
The parish church, near the turismo, was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake and again a century later. Inside is an impressive nave and a 14th-century…
Mértola
The enchanting Casa Romana is located in the cellar of the câmara municipal (town hall). The clever display allows visitors to walk ‘through’ the…
Baixo Alentejo
Tucked down a narrow lane off Praça da República, this small cultural space is dedicated to the rich folksinging traditions that grew up in the…
Mértola
Inside the castle walls, this prominent tower has exhibitions related to the history of Mértola, with several worthwhile (if dramatically scored) videos…
Cine Teatro da Mina de São Domingos
Mértola
In São Domingos, on the main road leading into town, this place provides a suitable introduction to life during the peak of the mining industry days…
Mértola
This is the administrative heart of the old town, a picturesque square lined with orange trees, with the câmara municipal (town hall) at its western end…
Monsaraz
The weather-beaten castle at the southwestern end of the village was one in the chain of Dom Dinis’ defensive fortresses along the Spanish border. It’s…
Baixo Alentejo
Dom Dinis built this castle on Roman foundations in the late 13th century. You can climb up the Torre de Menagem for fine views over the roofs of town…
Alto Alentejo
The local museum exhibits religious art of the 17th and 18th centuries, including paintings and furniture from the Convento de Santa Clara (now a public…
Alto Alentejo
In 1550 Portalegre became the seat of a new diocese and soon got its own cathedral. The pyramid-pointed, twin-towered 18th-century facade sombrely…
Mértola
This little clock tower, topped with a stork’s nest and overlooking the Rio Guadiana, is northeast of Largo Luís de Camões. Alongside it is a municipal…
Vila Nova De Milfontes
The main beach in Vila Nova de Milfontes is where the sea meats the Rio Mira. Sectioned-off areas allow for safe swimming, though you'll still need to be…
Évora
Part of the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, this pint-sized museum houses an intriguing collection of old carriages. It’s hidden away behind the Sé and is…
Baixo Alentejo
With a system of production similar to that of Roman times, an oil press here re-creates the oil-pressing factory that functioned on this spot between…
Baixo Alentejo
Set in a former factory, this museum houses a beautiful collection of ancient Roman oil lamps from the 1st century that were found in the region. You can…
