Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From Mértola, drive north to
Beja
, a lively town with a walled centre, intriguing mu-
seums and a 13th-century castle with sweeping views over golden wheat fields beyond
town. Keep north to reach
Évora
, the most vibrant town in the Alentejo. Its large cobble-
stone centre is a great place to wander, and is packed with history (don't miss the Bone
Chapel and Roman temple). Évora has great traditional restaurants and makes a good base
for visiting neolithic sites in the countryside. Head northeast to the marble town of
Vila
Viçosa
, home to a staggering palace and a peaceful town centre. Next up is
Castelo de
Vide
, a wildly remote-feeling town perched on a clifftop. Have a wander through the
sleepy streets, have lunch, and then continue to
Monsanto
, another photogenic castle- in-
the-sky town. Leave early for the two-hour drive to
Vila Nova de Foz Côa
, gateway to
some of Iberia's most extensive petroglyphs. From here, it's an easy detour to the vine-
yards along the Douro. Otherwise, head southwest into the
Parque Natural da Serra da
Estrela
, a scenic, mountainous area with great hiking, and peaceful guesthouses where
you can soak up the scenery.
Manteigas
makes a great base. After a day or two in the
mountains, head west to the lively university town of
Coimbra
. Visit the historic campus,
stroll the riverbank, feast on hearty Portuguese cooking and catch live Coimbra-style fado.
Visit
Conímbriga
southwest of Coimbra for a look at Roman ruins, then continue to
Santarém
, with Gothic architecture, atmospheric restaurants and panoramic views, be-
fore finishing the tour in
Lisbon
.
