We took a quick day-trip holiday to sample the culture and scenery of Alentejo, Portugal to see just what the region has to offer.
The sun beamed through the windows as rows and rows of green olive trees sped by.
We’d landed in Beja on the inaugural BMI 49-seater flight from London Heathrow to much fanfare from the local press and what I suspect was the local tourist board. I was a little unsure of whether the flowers that we were presented with were for both the male and female visitors but it was a nice touch and indeed intended for both, it was a warm and pleasant welcome.
We headed towards the UNESCO World Heritage site town Evora. The landscape was picturesque with vast expensive plains, vine yards, scattered cork trees, sunflower fields and the odd stalk nesting in the top of a tree. The sun drenched landscape had an overall calming and peaceful effect leading me to reflect on what an ideal place this would be to just relax, sample the local wine, the gourmet food and explore the tiny towns.
Alentejo seems like the perfect setting to escape the city and particularly suited for a self-drive holiday. Not only are the roads superbly maintained but there is very little traffic, just beautiful de-stressing landscapes.
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Evora certainly didn’t disappoint, I didn’t know quite where to point my camera lens with so much rustic and charming architecture. Both historic and cultural, Evora offered us the chance of tasting the local wine, with both red and white performing surprising well. After the sampling we wandered the town taking in all it’s rustic charm and snapping the fascinating architectural details, before heading to a local restaurant to indulge in the gourmet food.
After tasting the local cured meats, cheeses, breads and olive oil we took the bus to Beja for a coffee before heading to the airport. Beja had it’s own beauty and an impressive 13th century hill-top castle, we wandered the cobbled streets before catching the bus to the airport.
It had been an enjoyable day, I could certainly see why the region of Alentejo would be a superb place to relax and appreciate some local culture.
Apparently Alentejo boasts the largest artificial lake in Europe – the Alqueva Lake which is 250 km sq. It provides both hydroelectric power and irrigation for the surrounding locals. Visitors can hire a houseboat and cruise the lake stopping off at the numerous small villages along the way.
The coastal area of the Alentejo – Costa Azul is peaceful, sleepy and quiet. A wonderful place to take it easy visiting the quint villages, cristal clear waters and sandy beaches.
The region as a whole is perfect for wine lovers or those that want to escape the bustle of the city and visit historic sleepy towns, picturesq landscapes, world class culture whilst enjoying the favourable climate.
Sunvil Discovery have just opened the direct route to Beja’s new airport from London Heathrow, operating on a weekly basis (Sunday). Visit their website for details.
More photos of Evore, Beja and Alentejo.
