About Southern Alentejo
Enjoying a mild climate and a landscape full of
contrasts – valleys, hills and mountain ranges, rivers, dams; lakes and
reservoirs; – it is no wonder that the Southern (Baixo) Alentejo is becoming a popular destination.
The Southern Alentejo is well-known for its handicrafts which can be found in the outdoor markets that are held in local towns and villages throughout the year.
There are a number of Barragems and Lakes in the Southern Alentejo, including:
- Barragem Monte da Rocha
- Barragem de Santa Clara
- lakes near
- Ourique
- Barrancos
- Alvito
- Mertola on the River Guadiana
Other outdoor activities in the Southern Alentejo include:
- hiking
- bird watching
- pony trekking
- horse riding
An excellent way to discover more about the local Alentejo wines is to follow the Alentejo wine route which is centred around Beja (Southern Alentejo) and Evora and Portalegre (both in the Northern Alentejo).
Traditional Alentejano cuisine can be found in the plentiful restaurants
and cafés and we recommend that you sample the local cheeses, homemade
breads, olives, pork, barbecue chicken and fish
Towns and Villages in the Southern Alentejo
ALVITO
Alvito has pre-Roman origins and is home to the
only castle in Portugal that was not built as a residence for the King -
the Barons and Marquises of Alvito, and the Counts of Oriola, enjoyed
such influential favour in the royal courts during the 15th and 16th
Centuries that they were permitted to construct a palace – which is now a
charming Pousada.
The town itself dates back to Roman times and it has several interesting buildings and places. Particularly worth visiting are: the Chapel of São Sebastião; the 13th Century Parish Church and the Sanctuary of Santa Águeda.
Approximate Driving Time to Airports:
- Lisbon - 1 hour 45 minutes
- Porto - 6 hours
- Faro - 1 hour 45 minutes
- Badajoz (just over the Spanish Border) - 1 hour 15 minutes - currently an internal airport, Badajoz has applied for an International Licence - the outcome is still awaited.
- Seville (Spain) - 2 hours 15 minutes
BEJA
During the rule of Julius Caesar, Beja became a Roman capital and the Praca de Republica now marks the site of the Roman forum. The remains of a fine Roman villa in the Hellenistic style have been unearthed at Pisões, 10km south west of the City.
Approximate Driving Times to Airports:
- Lisbon - 2 hours
- Porto - 6 hours
- Faro - 1 hour 30 minutes
- Badajoz (just over the Spanish Border) - 1 hour 30 minutes - currently an internal airport, Badajoz has applied for an International Licence - the outcome is still awaited.
- Seville (Spain) - 2 hours
OURIQUE
This is a lovely rural town set in the Southern
Alentejo's countryside with good road access to the unspoiled west
coast beaches and about 1 hour’s drive from the bustling tourist resorts
on the Algarve.
The renowned "Battle of Ourique" took place on July 25, 1139, and saw the highly outnumbered Portuguese forces of Prince Afonso Henriqes defeat the Almoravid Moors.
The victory for Afonso Henriques was such that, with the overwhelming support of his troops, he was proclaimed "King of the Portuguese" and became Portugal's first King - Afonso I.
Typical cuisine from the area includes succulent Porco Preto (Black Pork) and poejada de Ourique , a soup made with pennyroyal, bread and eggs
Local handicrafts include works in wood and cork, pottery, embroideries and lace
There are freshwater Lakes nearby offering water sports and other leisure activities.
Approximate Driving Times to Airports:
- Lisbon - 1 hour 45 minutes
- Porto - 5 hours 15 minutes
- Faro - 1 hour 15 minutes
- Badajoz (just over the Spanish Border) - 1 hour 30 minutes - currently an internal airport, Badajoz has applied for an International Licence - the outcome is still awaited.
Golf in the Southern Alentejo
We understand that a new Golf Course is due to be
built approximately 10 minutes drive from Beja – in the meantime,
Golfers can take advantage of the great choice of courses on the Algarve
or travel a little further and discover the courses in the Lisbon
area or venture further South to the Algarve.
