Evora: History, Marble and Alqueva

The historic center of Évora is shaped by more than two thousand years of history. Its cityscape is a unique place to understand the influence of Portuguese architecture in Brazil. Évora is best explored on foot, along narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses. In the historic center, wide pedestrian streets and central corridors of granite slabs make getting around easier.

Archaeology, Buildings and Museums

The Cromeleque dos Perdigões is a group of six menhirs erected between the beginning of the 4th millennium and the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. In the area around Reguengos de Monsaraz, the megalithic landscape includes 276 monuments, one of the largest groups of its kind in Europe. The group of menhirs and the much larger number of monuments therefore offer different scales for exploring megaliths: an ensemble of six elements and a large group in the area around Reguengos de Monsaraz.

The Museu do Fresco building was the most distinguished and representative civic building in old Monsaraz. Today, the museum hosts annual exhibitions on the region’s history and culture; check the specific dates before visiting. The Paço Ducal de Vila Viçosa offers another architectural dimension: its 110-meter-long Mannerist façade is entirely clad in local marble. During a visit, you can see collections of paintings, sculptures, furniture, tapestries, ceramics and goldsmiths’ work.

The Museu do Mármore de Vila Viçosa focuses on Portuguese marble, as well as its extraction and processing. The Fortaleza de Juromenha preserves traces of Roman settlement and parts of an Arab defensive structure: a wall, gate and towers made of Islamic rammed earth. The fortress stands above the Guadiana River. Architecture and history can therefore be seen here both in a grand marble façade and in the surviving elements of a fortification.

Alqueva, the Night Sky and Wine

Praia Fluvial de Monsaraz is described as the first river beach on the Alqueva Reservoir. The reservoir shore in the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz also offers water sports and boat trips; individual operators may change. When planning, you can therefore choose between a beach visit and activities on the water.

For views of Monsaraz’s night sky, OLA – Observatório do Lago Alqueva – offers guided walks with telescope observations of star clusters, nebulae and distant galaxies. A municipal description from May 2023 also mentions astronomy and astrophotography courses, as well as public lectures. Check the observatory’s current dates and offerings before traveling.

Wine tourism is also an option in the area around Reguengos de Monsaraz. In May 2023, a municipal tourism website listed eleven wineries, ten of which offered wine tourism to visitors. The numbers and offerings may change, so ask about the current program before visiting.

Pottery and Cuisine

In São Pedro do Corval, visitors can watch master potters shape clay on the wheel and learn about their skills and experience. A municipal description updated in June 2023 describes São Pedro do Corval as Portugal’s largest pottery center and lists more than two dozen pottery workshops in permanent operation. The number of workshops may change. Traditional cuisine in the area around Reguengos de Monsaraz offers another regional highlight, including açorda alentejana, migas, silarcas, favada and ensopado de borrego.

Plan your trip around whichever of these themes matters most to you. For exhibitions, guided tours and courses, check the current dates so that your stay lines up with the visits you have in mind.

Discover more destinations: Sabugueiro, Redondo, Portel, Mora, Evora, Rio De Moinhos, Vila Viçosa, Alcáçovas, Alandroal, Viana Do Alentejo, Borba, São Gregório, Seixo Da Oliveira, Estremoz, Montemor-O-Novo, Vendas Novas, São Pedro, Brotas, Mourão, Arraiolos, Monte Da Estrada, Alandroal, Viana do Alentejo, Coruche, Reguengos De Monsaraz, Évora Monte, Vimieiro, Arraiolos and Alqueva.

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