Discover Portugal’s Alentejo region

The region of Alentejo in Portugal is proof that there are still lesser-known gems in Europe that are in the early stages of recognition by travellers, writes western editor, Ted Davis in the latest issue of Travel Courier.

Visitors to Portugal who decide to divert from better known places like Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve will find Alentejo to be welcoming, authentic, attractive and surprisingly quiet in terms of tourists.

The gently rolling rural landscape of Alentejo in southern Portugal is punctuated by occasional hill tops, many crowned by villages, castles and churches gathered in a defensive, walled posture.

The city of Evora in Alentejo exemplifies this city planning model, over 2,000 years in the making. The remains of Roman occupation are still standing in Evora, with some of the best Roman ruins in Europe. Tall stone pillars once supported the Templo Romano of Evora, and near this edifice are more recent examples of medieval architecture, including a well-preserved old town centre (Praca de Giraldo) and the remains of medieval walls and an aqueduct.

These were all factors in the naming of Evora as the European Capital of Culture in 2027, and are also the reasons that Evora was classified as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1986.

For the full story, check out the latest issue of TRAVEL COURIER.