Postcards from the Alentejo


For long unknown to all but an intrepid few travellers, the Alentejo region of Portugal is getting a lot of media attention in the last couple of years. So it might surprise you that you’re likely to find very few other tourists on a visit to the region, even in the main towns. Whether you’re sniffing out the vineyards, exploring the white-washed villages or wandering along the spectacular coastline you’re likely to have the Alentejo pretty much to yourself.
I travelled here with my wife in September as part of my ongoing work with Sunvil, who hosted my trip. I’ll be writing about our experiences in Portugal on the Sunvil blog - you can take a look there over the next few months to read various Alentejo stories. The first post is about Aldeia da Luz – a remarkable story of a village that moved.
But for now, here are a few photos from our visit that show off the best of the Alentejo region:
Bougainvillea on a white washed wall
Bougainvillea on a white washed wall at Herdade do Touril
Cork tree
Cork tree at sunset, Alqueva lake
The vast plains of the Alentejo
Cork trees dot the flat plains of the Alentejo
Stork nests
Stork nests can be found on any suitable perch (and some wholly unsuitable ones too)
Traffic on the road ahead
Traffic on the road ahead near Aldeia da Luz
Alqueva Houseboat
Our houseboat – home and transport for two days on the Alqueva reservoir
The new village of Luz
The new village of Luz – finished in 2002 to house the residents of the old village, now under the Alqueva reservoir
Monsaraz
The quaint streets of Monsaraz in the midday heat
Windmill Castro Verde
Working windmill in the town of Castro Verde
Mansion houses in Castro Verde
Mansion houses in Castro Verde
Secluded beach near Zambujeira do Mar
Secluded (if almost inaccessible) beach near Zambujeira do Mar on the Alentejo coast

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