ALENTEJO GUIDE
by Herdade dos Alfanges
TOP 8 OF THE BEST BEACHES IN ALENTEJO
PRAIA DE TRÓIA-GALÉ
Appreciated for the calm waters and the view to the Arrábida Mountains Natural Park. If you are lucky, you can see dolphins.
PRAIA DA COMPORTA
Located in the limits of the Sado Estuary Natural Reserve. This beach has the ideal conditions to captivate the visitor.
PRAIA DO CARVALHAL
Known among surf and kitesurf lovers. If you are lucky, you can see dolphins. On this beach you can have surf lessons.
PRAIA DE MELIDES
It is considered the largest beach in Portugal. This beach is also very popular among surfers and lovers of strong emotions.
PRAIA DA LAGOA
DE ST ANDRÉ
It is very appreciated by families for the tranquility of their waters and for windsurfing lovers.
PRAIA DE SÃO TORPES
It has the advantage of having a higher temperature than normal due to the thermoelectric located a few meters away.
PRAIA DA SAMOQUEIRA
It consists of a small sand cover cut by rocks, which creates almost intimate environments. It’s not very frequented.
PRAIA DA ZAMBUJEIRA DO MAR
It’s surrounded by high cliffs, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view over the ocean.
JOGGING OR BIKING IN ALENTEJO
ROMAN PLACES TO VISIT
ROMAN TEMPLE
Also called Temple of Diana, is a Corinthian style temple, built at the beginning of the 1st century AC. It’s what remains of the Forum of the city of Évora and was dedicated to the imperial cult. The temple, built in marble and granite, is surrounded by columns. The original facade has completely disappeared.
CERCA VELHA
Évora still retains traces of its defensive walls. Although the origin of the walls date back to the 3rd century most of the structure that we now see is of a later period. The construction is particularly well documented at the beginning of the X century, when many battles were being waged against the Moors.
TERMAL BATHS
Excavation have found evidence of public baths. Particularly well preserved are the “Laconicum” a heated room, integrating a large tank and steam bath. Therefore it’s assumed that here existed a large Roman aqueduct, a predecessor of the existing Aqueduct that was built at the end of the 16th century.
TOUREGA
There’re many megalithic remains nearby in evidence of pre-historic times. This Villa was located near the Roman road to Salacia (Setúbal). In the 3rd century it belonged to a family of senatorial rank linked to agriculture. See the large spa complex used from the 1st century until the end of the 4th century AD..
SÃO CUCUFATE
The Roman ruins, date back to 1st century BC and were regarded as a center of farming. The garden of S. Cucufate, settled near the ruins, continues to give life to this place, alongside the cultural attractions that the archaeological provides.
VILA DE PISÕES
The village was accidentally discovered in 1967 while agricultural work was being done in the area. The village of Pisão was occupied in the Roman period between the centuries BC and IV AD. The village was partially excavated, mainly the residential area of the owners.
MONTE DA CHAMINÉ
The Roman Villa, near the town, dates from the 1st century BC. The villa was discovered in 1981 and has undergone six years of excavations. The large residential area and the agricultural area where an oil mill is thought to have existed stand out.
DID YOU KNOW...
It was Roman emperor Augustus who completed the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the first century BC. The Romans imposed their law, their language and architecture. At the beginning of the Roman expansion peninsula was divided administratively into two provinces: Hispania Citerior and Hispania Ulterior. Then, in the 4th century, the peninsula included the regions of the north but also the Balearic Islands and Mauretania (Morocco).