Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ALTO ALENTEJO
The northern half of the Alentejo is a medieval gem, with a scattering of walled fortress
towns (such as Elvas and Estremoz) and remote cliff-top castles (such as Marvão and
Castelo de Vide). Only a handful of visitors to Alto Alentejo travel beyond Évora, so once
outside the city you'll see traditional life at its most authentic.
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Évora
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One of Portugal's most beautifully preserved medieval towns, Évora is an enchanting place
to delve into the past. Inside the 14th-century walls, Évora's narrow, winding lanes lead to
striking architectural works: an elaborate medieval cathedral and cloisters; the cinematic
columns of the Templo Romano (near the intriguing Roman baths); and a picturesque town
square, once the site of some rather gruesome episodes courtesy of the Inquisition. Aside
from its historic and aesthetic virtues, Évora is also a lively university town, and its many
attractive restaurants serve up hearty Alentejan cuisine. Outside town, Neolithic monu-
ments and rustic wineries make fine day trips.
Évora climbs a gentle hill above the Alentejo plain. Around the walled centre runs a ring
road from which you can enter the town on one of several 'spoke' roads. The town's focal
point is Praça do Giraldo, 700m from the bus station to the southwest.
History
The Celtic settlement of Ebora had been established here before the Romans arrived in 59
BC and made it a military outpost, and eventually an important centre of Roman Iberia,
when it was known as 'Ebora Liberalitas Julia'.
After a depressing spell under the Visigoths, the town got its groove back as a centre of
trade under the Moors. In AD 1165 Évora's Muslim rulers were hoodwinked by a rogue
Portuguese Christian knight known as Giraldo Sem Pavor (Gerald the Fearless). The well-
embellished story goes like this: Giraldo single-handedly stormed one of the town's
watchtowers by climbing up a ladder of spears driven into the walls. From there he distrac-
ted (some say killed) municipal sentries while his companions took the town with hardly a
fight.
