Portugal | Alentejo Alentejo – the gastronomic soul of Portugal Castelo de Vide • • Marvão Inland, beyond the mountains medieval castles and forests of Lisbon Crato • Region • Monforte of Monchique and the Serra pine and cork. Estremoz • Arraiolos • • Vila Viçosa do Caldeirão, stretch the plains • Alandroal The coastal region of the Alentejo, the Costa Redondo • Spain • Évora Troia • • Monsaraz of the Alentejo, a magnificent Azul, is still practically deserted and like the Alcacer do Sal • Amieira Alqueva Alvito • Marina Algarve 40 years ago, with just a handful of Grândola • Vidigueira • • Lake • Moura landscape of wheat and • Beja pretty seaside villages such as Vila Nova de • Quintos Vila Nova • Porto Covo • Albernoa sunflower fields dotted with tiny Milfontes, Zambujeira do Mar and Porto Covo de Milfontes • • São Luis Zambujeira with their fine sandy beaches. do Mar • whitewashed villages, hilltop 1 2 3 4 Gastronomic Experiences Alentejo Wine Routes Beaches Fortified Villages Home-cooked, traditional Alentejo Alentejo wines are gaining a Uncrowded, undeveloped, glorious Along the Spanish border you will fare can be enjoyed across the reputation with connoisseurs golden sandy beaches can be found discover atmospheric, historical region. Try ‘A Escola’, Alcácer do Sal; around the world. Whether all along the Alentejo coastline. fortified villages of which Marvão, ‘Herdade da Malhadinha Nova’, white, red or rosé wines are filled Even in the height of season it is Castelo de Vide, Monsaraz and Albernoa; ‘La Tasca do Celso’, Vila with aromatic liveliness and can possible to find a secluded spot. Elvas are all worth a visit. Nova de Milfontes and ‘Failho’, Evora. be enjoyed young or aged. 1030 | Sunvil 020 8758 4722 www.sunvil.co.uk Main image: Terena, Alentejo Portugal | Alentejo Coastal Alentejo The Costa Azul offers fine, and relatively deserted, sand beaches, pretty whitewashed villages and two distinct walking trails – the Rota Vicentina. Herdade das Barradas da Serra, Grândola This family-run property, set within Accommodation: 10 air-conditioned two 800 hectare estates, has about rooms including standard rooms, superior 600 sheep as well as many wild boar rooms and two suites. and hectares of cork oak and olive • Airports: 115km Lisbon trees. The guest rooms are located • Turismo Rurale in two converted farm buildings • Bed & Breakfast and are beautifully appointed and • Rural location furnished in a rustic style. With the • Complimentary WiFi town of Grândola a short drive away • Swimming pool (5-minutes), marked walking trails, bicycle hire, an outdoor swimming Guide price from £547 per person* pool and large grounds, a stay here can be as active or relaxed as desired. Superior Room Two-bedroom Apartment Herdade do Freixial, Vila Nova de Milfontes Located just 2km from the centre of Accommodation: 10 air-conditioned Vila Nova de Milfontes, the grounds of units including standard rooms, a the Herdade do Freixal overlook the superior room, one-bedroom and estuary of the River Mira, a view that two-bedroom apartments. can only be described as stunning. • Airports: 167km Faro The infinity outdoor swimming pool / 187km Lisbon seemingly merges with the waters of • Rural hotel the estuary and the rural setting in • Bed & Breakfast open countryside, wooded hills and • Rural location meadows where sheep and cattle • Complimentary WiFi graze offers peace and tranquillity. • Swimming pool This property is in a wonderful location and owner-managed by a Guide price from £523 per person* very friendly and helpful family. Herdade do Touril, Zambujeira do Mar Set on a 365 hectare estate within Accommodation: 12 rooms including the Costa Vicentina National Park, standard rooms, suites, one-bedroom the Herdade do Touril provides an and two-bedroom houses. ideal place to relax and escape from • Airports: 221km Lisbon / 142km Faro the stresses of everyday life. With its • Manor House whitewashed walls tinged with blue, • Bed & Breakfast tiled roofs and ceramic floors, the • Coastal location property retains all the rustic charm of • Complimentary WiFi the Alentejo, without forsaking any of • Swimming pool the modern comforts. The twelve guest rooms, located in five separate houses, Guide price from £569 per person* are simply but tastefully decorated and have French doors which lead out onto a private terrace. Standard Room * Guide prices based on 2-sharing a leading room type for 7 nights, flights from London to Lisbon (other airports on request) and car hire. Note: We cannot guarantee that any of our featured properties are suitable for all levels of disability so please ask if you have specific issues. Please visit our website for further information on these and other featured properties. 020 8758 4722 www.sunvil.co.uk Portugal | 31 Portugal | Alentejo Alqueva Lake Alqueva is the largest artificial lake in Europe (93km long), built on the Guadiana River. You can go kayaking, sailing and water-skiing on the lake as well as sunbathe on one of two artificial sand beaches at Monsaraz and Mourão. Live-aboard Motorboats, Amieira Marina The motorboats, on Lake Alqueva, Accommodation: 7 boat types (sleeping sleep from 2 to 10 people and have 2 to 10 persons), each equipped with GPS, one to five bedrooms. They are easy sonar and a communication system. to use, have a top speed of 6 miles per • Airports: 194km Lisbon / 206km Faro hour and the Marina staff offer training • Houseboats (c.90-minutes) before setting off. The • Self Catering majority of the beds are doubles and • Lake Alqueva location there are only two models which • Kayaks and bikes can be rented have single beds. All the villages have and taken onboard the boats docking facilities and each night after mooring the boat you can walk Guide price from £1,295 per person* to the village (c.1-2km) to enjoy the delightful local cuisine. Note: Some restaurants will also deliver meals to the boats on request. Pousada Convento de Beja, Beja This impressive Pousada, originally built Accommodation: 35 air-conditioned in 1268, was a Franciscan monastery rooms, converted from the original and is centrally located in the city of monastic cells, including standard Beja. Today, after major repair and rooms and one suite. restoration, the São Francisco provides • Airports: 148km Faro / 174km Lisbon Standard Room comfortable lodgings in a splendid • Historic Pousada centuries-old structure which still • Bed & Breakfast retains its former chapter house and • City location cloister dating back to the 1300’s. • Complimentary WiFi • Restaurant • Swimming pool Guide price from £767 per person* Herdade do Vau, Quintos The original 19th century manor house Accommodation: 12 air-conditioned was in ruins and in 2012 the owner units including standard twin rooms, decided to renovate the property superior double rooms and apartments and has brought to life the traditional (one-bedroom and two-bedroom) building in the most sensitive manner. • Airports: 159km Faro Interestingly, parts of the structure which / 233km Lisbon were added - bathrooms for instance • Manor House - are finished in smooth, polished • Bed & Breakfast (BB) concrete to indicate a departure from • Self Catering (SC) the original. The result is an airy cool • Complimentary WiFi structure with large bedrooms from • Restaurant which there are wonderful views over • Rural location the surrounding landscape. From the • Swimming pool terraces and the large swimming pool • Wine Estate the views are to the Guadiana River, vineyards and pastures. Guide price from £756 per person* Superior Room * Guide prices based on 2-sharing a leading room type for 7 nights, flights from London to Lisbon (Houseboats) or Faro (other airports on request) and car hire. Note: We cannot guarantee that any of our featured properties are suitable for all levels of disability so please ask if you have specific issues. Please visit our website for further information on these and other featured properties. 1032 | Sunvil 020 8758 4722 www.sunvil.co.uk Portugal | Alentejo Alentejo wines The unspoiled landscape of the Alentejo, boasts 22,000 hectares of un-drenched vineyards, eight separate DOC accredited sub-regions and 250 independent wineries. Currently, one in every two bottles of wine consumed in Portugal is produced in the Alentejo. Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Albernoa Malhadinha Nova is a family-owned, Accommodation: 10 air-conditioned 450 hectare country estate set in rooms including standard rooms, junior the heart of the Alentejo region. suites and suites. The estate produces traditional, • Airports: 127km Faro / 211km Lisbon regional products of the highest • Country House quality including award-winning • Bed & Breakfast wines, the famous Alentejo black • Complimentary WiFi pork and pureblood Alentejo beef. • Restaurant Guest accommodation is offered in • Rural location an Alentejo-style country farmhouse • Swimming pool which affords stunning views over • Spa the estate. • Wine Estate Guide price from £1,189 per person* Standard Room Wine Boutique Hotel do Sobroso, Vidigueira This 1,660 hectare estate (4,100 acres) Accommodation: 11 air-conditioned consists of wild landscape, some of units including standard rooms, a suite which borders Lake Alqueva, craggy, and two-bedroom apartments. forested hills and hidden valleys with • Airports: 188km Faro breathtaking views as far away as Beja / 202km Lisbon (43km). Personally and passionately • Boutique Hotel managed by Sofia and Filipe, this is • Bed & Breakfast a tribute to Alentejo’s local cuisine, • Complimentary