Description

This tour will leave in the morning towards the deep Portugal. By going across rolling hills, valleys and never ending landscapes, we will finally enter the Alentejo region. Known by its large plains and high Summer temperatures, the Alentejo is still the home of some important industries such as cork and the site of production of some of the best Portuguese wines.

It will be now time to arrive in Evora. The winding walled city of Evora, capital of the Alentejo region is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and will attract you for its medieval appearance. It will be difficult to stop walking around the very narrow streets of its historical center. Besides several other monuments to be visited (such as the Cathedral, Saint Francis church and the ancient University) it is also in Évora that is located one of the most significant traces of the roman occupation in the Portuguese territory: the Roman Temple, from the 1st century and probably dedicated to the Emperor Augusto but famous under the name of Diana's temple (name associated with the goddess of the hunters). A "meeting" with the Portuguese history and the genuine houses from the South of Portugal, with their white washed façades. You'll also have the chance to have lunch here, in one of the "Gastronomic Temples" of the city, since Evora - as any other genuine city in Alentejo - is well known for its fantastic traditional gastronomy. Restaurants like "Fialho", "Tasquinha Do Oliveira", "Luar de Janeiro" or "Taberna Típica 4ªFeira" are all among the best.

We'll also visit a great winery included in the program, the "Herdade da Cartuxa". Located very close to Evora the winery belongs to the renowned Foundation Eugenio de Almeida, that using century old know-how, produces, with only the noblest grape varietals, some of the best wines of Portugal... It will be in the Enotourism centre that our visit will start, located in the old refectory of the Jesuit religious order (that used to lecture in the University of Evora). After the expulsion of the order by the Marquis de Pombal the convent was nationalized and in 1776 wine was already produced in here. During our private tour you will understand why do the Cartuxa wines enjoy such a reputation of excellency throughout Portugal, being that the reason why we have included this winery.