With its colorful landscape, wide roads and almost hypnotic villages and whitewashed villages, Alentejo is perhaps the most vivid of the regions of Portugal - and certainly the largest. Occupying about a third of the Portuguese continental territory, it reveals itself in all its splendor during spring, when the wildflowers dot the fields and meadows with color. For hundreds of years, Alentejo was a battlefield, first against the Moorish and, later, against the Spanish invaders. Now, most of the cork international production is available here.

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Gastronomy
The Alentejo region is famous for its bread-based dishes, known as Açordas and Migas, of which the most popular include shrimps. Curiously, the dish that includes the name of the region (Porco à Alentejana, with pieces of pork meat, paprika, clams, and potato chips) is not part of the local gastronomy, it was created in Lisbon and currently being present from north to south of the country. The sweets and desserts are one of the greatest richness’s of Alentejo, especially the delicious cheeses produced in Évora, the capital of the region. Alentejo wines have been growing in popularity and importance over the last two decades, competing with what is best produced in the Douro Valley.

Must visit
In the heart of the Alentejo, the walled city of Évora is a good base for exploring countless towns and villages that are worthy of attention, spread over just a few kilometers. Even without leaving the Alentejo capital, we can visit a Roman temple (temple of Diana) and an impressive Gothic cathedral. Elvas, very close to the Spanish border, is the largest Portuguese defensive bastion. Its main attractions include a Manueline cathedral and remarkable tile panels in the church of the S. Domingos cloister. Outside the city is located the Roman aqueduct of Amoreira, with an extension of seven kilometers.

The inhabitants of Estremoz, not far from Elvas, managed to preserve the upper area of ​​the city, where a tower stands on the castle. The lower part is surrounded by fortifications, where you can find the Gothic church of the convent of S. Francisco.

Other places of interest in the Alentejo include the beautiful cities of Portalegre, Montemor-o-Novo, Monsaraz and Mértola.

Main attractions

Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa
13th-century castle of Monsaraz
Marvão's 13th-century castle

Roman temple of Diana in Evora
Elvas Walls
Convent of the Conception in Beja
 
Main events and festivities
 
Flower Festival - Campo Maior - September
Évora Classical Music Festival - July
Islamic Festival of Mértola (bi-annual) - May
Songs of the World Festival- Sines - July

TMN Southwest Festival - Zambujeira do Mar - August
Monsaraz Open Museum - July
Baja Portalegre 500 - November