Alentejo Brochure 1
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KILOMETRES OF BEACH ART AND CULTURE, TRADITION WELL KEPT SECRETS alentejo Over one hundred kilometres of AND MODERNITY Part of the patrimonial wealth of itinerary Atlantic coast, extending to Famous for its hand embroidered the Alentejo, many churches hide Grândola, Santiago do Cacém, carpets, you must visit Arraiolos. interesting frescos painted Sines and Odemira. Portalegre has also gained a name throughout the 15th to the 19th The Alentejo has dozens of for its tapestry, which has specialised centuries. The Fresco Route fabulous beaches, some exposed, in reproducing the works of art of suggests a journey to Portel, WALKS some sheltered, and many hidden famous Portuguese and foreign Vidigueira, Alvito, Cuba and Viana by cliffs. Perfect for diving with painters. Mértola and Monsaraz are do Alentejo, to discover pictures BALLOONING your partner or family, for also famous for their hand-woven painted in the same shades as the practicing sports like surfing or blankets and Nisa for its embroidery Alentejo landscape: indigo blue, MONUMENTS fishing, the beaches in the Alentejo - and not to be forgotten are the magenta and yellow ochre. are perfect alternatives to more ceramic dolls of Estremoz, the cow MARINA Plains filled crowded destinations, and are also bells of Viana do Alentejo, and the popular with lovers of naturism. typical leathers, painted furniture PROTECTED NATURE CASTLES AND FORTRESSES - GOLF UNIQUE AROMAS AND with wild and pottery from Flor da Rosa. The Alentejo has kilometres of well HISTORY HERITAGE FLAVOURS flowers, conserved nature - from the Nature Those who like history will really CANOEING Along with its exceptional Parks of the Southeast of the enjoy the many castles and gastronomy and varied range of sunflower Alentejo, Vale do Guadiana, and fortifications, which have been fairly ALL-TERRAIN hotels, nowadays the Alentejo is fields, miles of Noudar, to the Natural Reserve of well preserved, and which can be one of the most important wine Lagoa de Santo André and Sancha found throughout the Alentejo. CAMP SITES regions in the Country. Travel sandy and the Nature Park of Serra de Discover the legends beyond the through the Wine Route and visit TAKE A STROLL THROUGH São Mamede, where you can see fortified walls, among castles, MUSEUMS beaches, some of the most beautiful towns PRE-HISTORIC TIMES foxes and eagles, and the Sado fortresses, watchtowers, and and cities of the Alentejo. And horizons that A destination not to be missed for NAUTICAL SPORTS WORLD HERITAGE Estuary, where you can see fortified towns. The past framed WINE TOURISM because wine calls for a good meal, seem to go lovers of archaeology, the Alentejo Increasingly more visible in the With a beautiful historic centre flamingos and dolphins, or the within the present. The list is very SURFING enjoy the appetizers, cheeses and has the vastest collection of landscape of the Alentejo, the classified by UNESCO as World cereal steppes and environmental long. Discover the Alentejo. cold meats of the Alentejo, the on forever, dolmens and menhirs in the whole tranquil dams with their calm Heritage, in 1986, Évora - often circuits of Castro Verde. torresmos (pork rinds, served cold), Iberian Peninsula, particularly in waters, and green surrounding referred to as Museum-city - BEACH quiet grilled peppers, octopus salad and the areas around Évora (with more landscapes, are outstanding preserves the remains of over a NAUTICAL SPORTS pezinhos de coentrada (pork's feet reservoirs than 150 megalithic monuments locations for sports like jet skiing thousand years of history, under with coriander). surrounded recorded) and Portalegre. Take a windsurfing, water skiing or Celtic, Roman, Visigoth, and CYCLE PATHS/BICYCLESTHEME PARK As a second course, there are stroll through pre-historic times canoeing, but also just for enjoying Arabian influences. All that ensopados (a kind of stew), migas by green and visit the Cromlech of the immensely rich fauna and flora remains of “Liberalitas Julia”is the HORSE RIDING (mashed bread), excellent game, vegetation, Almendres (one of the most of the region. magnificent Roman Temple, dating caldeiradas (typical dishes made important monuments of its kind from the 1st or 2nd century AD, THERMAL BATHS from several types of fish ), shark hospitable in Europe) and Anta Grande do next to the magnificent Cathedral, soup and grilled fish. For dessert, towns and Zambujeiro (the largest dolmen in which was initiated in the late KART TRACK try the convent pastry, queijadas Portugal), both in Évora, and the 13th century. An important de requeijão (small cakes made of cities with Menir de Meada, the tallest political and cultural centre from BELVEDERES cottage cheese), or plum sericaia; whitewashed menhir in the Iberian Peninsula, the 15th century onwards. Évora is and all of this combined with the rising seven meters above the still a unique city today. BIRDWATCHING outstanding regional liquors. houses - the ground, in Castelo de Vide. ENDLESS HORIZONS entire Plains that seem to go on forever, PARASAILING spectacular landscapes to be enjoyed ICONIC CITIES Alentejo is a from above - from a balloon - or on During the historical periods that MEGALITHISM stage for the ground, by car, by bike or on foot. influenced and changed the Golden wheat fields, the green of cork territory of the Alentejo, caves, AEROPORTO experiences oaks and olive trees, the earth's colors, temples, fortresses, castles, towns and like violet, yellow, brown, the and cities rose up and became vineyards, the blue of the ocean, unique as signs of their time. Be sensations fortified towns, castles, montes they places where monuments Mina de (traditional farm complexes), and reign or others where mysticism São Domingos whitewashed houses. The Alentejo sets the tone, the cities of the has a varied landscape. Alentejo are always examples of fine Unique and always surprising. conservation. TURISMO DO ALENTEJO, ENTIDADE REGIONAL DE TURISMO Praça da República, 12 - 1º Apartado 335 7800-427 Beja Tel.: +351 284 313 540 Fax: +351 284 313 550 [email protected] www.visitalentejo.pt TURISMO DO ALENTEJO Time to be happy AGÊNCIA REGIONAL DE PROMOÇÃO TURÍSTICA DO ALENTEJO – TURISMO DO ALENTEJO Rua Dr. Manuel Baptista dos Reis, nº 6 7570-284 Grândola Tel 00 351 269 498 680 Fax 00 351 269 498 687 [email protected] www.visitalentejo.pt TURISMO DE PORTUGAL Edifício-Sede Rua Ivone Silva, Lote 6 1050-124 Lisboa Tel.: +351 211 140 200 Fax: +351 211 140 830 [email protected] www.visitportugal.com CO-FINANCIAMENTO Brochura Inst Alentejo Miolo Ingles 12/21/10 12:17 PM Page 3 ALENTEJO_TIME TO BE HAPPY 3 ITINERARIES EXPERIENCES > Follow our suggestions. No > The Alentejo is more than just matter why you have made this beautiful landscapes and historic index trip or who you have brought cities. Live the region to the fullest with you, in the Alentejo you will while enjoying the experiences The Alentejo Time to be happy find interesting routes to follow, and programmes – organized or SEGMENTS full of history and adventure, not – that the plains have to offer > A family holiday, a getaway for Page 3 - INTRODUCTION which will make you long to come in the countryside or at the beach, two, backpacking or quality Time to be happy. Time to get to back to get to know this unique on land or in the air. tourism for seniors, the Alentejo know the Alentejo. The Alentejo of region even better. offers its visitors numerous monuments, where culture and programmes and experiences that history are assets to be preserved. you will remember forever. The Alentejo of the senses, of unique flavours and aromas. The Alentejo of activities, with THE ALENTEJO generous wide open spaces. An outstanding destination of multiple choices. The Alentejo of life and relaxation. The Alentejo of emotions. Page 10 - FAMILY HOLIDAY Alentejo Fantastic ocean and river beaches, theme parks, eco and educational parks, horses, dolphins, museums, Marked by its nature and heritage, the vast Active Alentejo. Where spaces and scenarios abound handicrafts and so much more. The for wandering on foot, by bike, on a horse, balloon Alentejo calls for experimentation. landscape, the fabulous Atlantic beaches, the or boat... Or outdoor activities, such as canoeing, jet- traditions and the pleasure of welcoming skiing, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, water-skiing, hanggliding, paragliding or orienteering. visitors, the Alentejo offers history, adventure The Alentejo is a place to stay - in whitewashed and unforgettable experiences to all of its houses, in isolated family farms, in camp sites, hostels or resorts, charming or luxurious rural visitors. Almost three thousand hours of hotels, and in towns and historic cities that sunlight a year to enjoy, without limits. Always. continue to grow and modernise. The Alentejo is a place to live - with its religious and popular festivals, the traditional cante - singing -, the et a move on. Get to know the Alentejo. The music festivals that rock the summer, and other more Alentejo of monuments, of the influence Unforgettable moments erudite forms of music in beautiful palaces and churches. Page 14 - GETAWAY FOR TWO left by different civilisations and cultures await you in the immense The Alentejo is a place for relaxation. And for Walks, boat and horse rides, or Gthat have settled here, of castles, churches plains of the Alentejo. A enjoying its precious silence. There’s only one even balloon rides... The Alentejo is and convents, of medieval heroes and their stories, place for happiness. Alentejo - full of emotions. for flirting - for tasting, for of the splendour of Renaissance and Baroque enjoying the best hotels and Spas, palaces with their gilded woodcarvings and tiles. and for returning again and again. The Alentejo of conservation. Varied and beautiful, with an immense natural landscape extending Page 18 - BACKPACKERS through the plains - with the cork oak woodlands Camp sites, extreme experiences in and the vineyards – the wild mountains of the the air, in the water or on the borders softened by the tranquillity of the ground.