Authentic Alentejo

In Beja, the Convento da Conceição, a jewel of late Gothic period in Portugal, awaits us. But the wealth of these lands is also to be found in its traditional rouparias, where the famous Serpa cheese is produced. It is also in the tempting flavours of the fresh local cuisine and the distinctive wine from its own celebrated grape varieties. At one of the oldest wineries in the region, we will find the air heavy with the unmistakable scent of wine fermenting in Roman jars, according to ancient tradition.

In the typically medieval town of Monsaraz, where time itself seems to have come to a stop, the greenery of the landscape is tinged with the blue of Alqueva`s Dam waters providing a perfect setting for a picnic on a sunny day. Leaving behind the mysterious, dramatic clusters of prehistoric standing stones, enveloped in enigmas yet to be solved, we then head towards Vila Viçosa.

An ancient aristocratic pomp is still palpable in the old ducal lands of Vila Viçosa. This feudal atmosphere permeates the Pousada de D. João IV - formerly the Convento das Chagas, it was founded at the start of the 16th century by Dom Jaime, a duke of the powerful house of Bragança, as penance for a crime of passion.

 
Estremoz is the final stage of our journey. Behind the formidable 17^th-century ramparts, Alentejo`s signature tranquillity and diverse cultural heritage still reign. Here, we can explore the castle`s monumental Torre de Menagem, built in memory of Queen Santa Isabel, who died in the town, and its polyphonic baroque interior of carvings and tiles (azulejos).