 |
|
|
| |
 |
PORTUGAL |
 |
|
|
Centre
- Alentejo :
 |
Alentejo, the charm
of its plains and golden sun ...
To the south
of Portugal, beyond the River Tagus (além do Tejo in
Portuguese), there stretches a vast, undulating and seemingly
never-ending plain: the Alentejo.
It is easy to become
completely enveloped in its landscape, a clear expression
of the harmony that can still exist between humankind and
nature. Dotted here and there, amidst the vibrant colours
of spring or the ochre hues of autumn, are to be seen brilliant
white houses, with their doors and windows framed in blue
or yellow. Standing like watchful sentinels in the midst
of this great immensity are the so-called "eagle´s nests":
centuries-old towns nestling behind their defensive walls
and awaiting your peaceful "attack". |
 |
Here you can follow
the trail of the many peoples that have co-existed in these
plains over the years and left behind them a host of memories
to enrich present-day Portugal: the Roman, Mudéjar and Jewish
cultures have all passed through here and left their indelible
marks. |
 |
|
 |
Perhaps you would like to go back even further? The
Alentejo is extremely rich in archaeological remains that
bear testimony to different stages in the development of
human life over thousands of years.
Make sure that your
tour takes in cities such as Évora, classified as a world
heritage site and steeped in almost two thousand years of
history, Vila Viçosa, the home of the last king of Portugal,
or Beja, the home of Soror Mariana, the lovelorn nun, who,
shut inside her convent, looked out over the plains from
her window and wrote passionate love letters to her dashing
French army captain, or perhaps Portalegre, in the heart
of the São Mamede National Park.
|
| In addition to
the warm hospitality that is an omnipresent characteristic
of the Portuguese people, you can also enjoy a varied cuisine,
liberally seasoned with aromatic herbs, and the quite unique
desserts and sweet dishes made from traditional convent
recipes and complemented so perfectly by the region´s full-bodied wines. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
