Tag Archives: Monuments

The municipality of Odemira is a Unique Alentejo (Alentejo Singular). That’s what the county calls it, and rightly so. Odemira is not a unique place in the sense that it is completely different from the whole Alentejo. What makes it distinctive is that it gathers in itself many of the different characteristics that we find separately, here and there, around the region. To facilitate diversity, …

Finding Roman remains in Evora is not something that surprises our visitors. Did you know that, during the romanisation era in the Iberian Peninsula, the whole Alentejo region was of vital importance to Rome? The city of Evora quickly got the attention of the Roman troops for its privileged location. Alentejo was a rich source of wheat, a fundamental cereal for Rome. Panem et circenses …

Marvao (Marvão), the “very noble and always loyal” village, got its name from Queen Maria II. It is located on Portalegre district, Alentejo. Very close to the border with Spain, on top of Sapoio Sierra, at about 2,800ft (860m) high. More precisely located between the village of Castelo de Vide and the city of Portalegre, well inside Parque Natural da Serra de S. Mamede (Natural …

Almendres Cromlech… There are few places with such a powerful mystique that not even time itself can change. The Almendres Estate, located in the parish of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, proudly holds one of these rare monuments. One from magical old forgotten times. It plays with our imagination and transports us to its origins. A living memory which awaits you near Evora and is known …

Vila Viçosa is known as the “Princess of Alentejo”, Portugal. Although small, this is one of the most precious and charming jewels of Alentejo. The village is truly an open-air museum. The name Vila Viçosa (lush village) is due to the fertility of the soils and the charming territory. This village in Alentejo Portugal is Florbela Espanca’s hometown, one of the country’s most notorious poetesses. …

King Manuel Palace is, still today, one of the most beautiful buildings in Evora. This monument is located inside Evora Public Park, in the tranquility of a green space with terraces and benches from where you can admire the palace. The history of King Manuel Palace is a bit turbulent, like the one of many buildings which are part of Evora’s heritage. King Afonso ordered …

Evora Cathedral! You can see its silhouette from very far away, drawn up on the urban landscape. Known locally as Sé de Évora, its real name is Basílica Sé de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption). It is the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal and has no match in the rest of the country. The Cathedral of Evora “protects” the …

The Roman Temple in Evora is one of the greatest and best preserved roman temples in the Iberian Peninsula. That is why it was considered World Heritage by UNESCO in 1986. This is the ex-libris of the city, a sort of visiting card. And, of course, the most important representative of the Roman remains in Evora. Looking at this Roman Temple, also wrongly known as …