Alto Alentejo
The region
Between Crato and Nisa, the Alto Alentejo unfolds in plain and cork-oak country, with castle villages, old thermal spas and the Tagus close by. Here we bring together what is worth visiting from our houses. At the table, migas and lamb stew, Nisa cheese and convent sweets.
Foto: Cardilio / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mosteiro de Flor da Rosa
Crato
A fortified monastery from 1356, now a Pousada inn. Free entry.
Foto: Vitor Oliveira / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Vila do Crato
Crato
The town square, the Municipal Museum and the Grand Prior's Palace. Lively during Holy Week, the Crato Festival in August and Waking Life.
Foto: autor desconhecido / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Anta do Tapadão
Crato
One of the largest dolmens in the country, in the Crato municipality.
Foto: Vitor Oliveira / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Termas da Sulfúrea
Cabeço de Vide
A unique alkaline water, used since Roman times. Baths and treatments.
Foto: Acfmagalhaes / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Coudelaria de Alter Real
Alter do Chão
A royal stud farm founded in 1748, cradle of the Alter Real horse.
Foto: Vitor Oliveira / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Portalegre e as Tapeçarias
Portalegre
The district capital and the museum of its celebrated tapestries.
Foto: Elemaki / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Marvão
Marvão
A walled medieval town in the Serra de São Mamede, with views over Spain.
Foto: Concierge.2C / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Castelo de Vide
Castelo de Vide
A medieval Jewish quarter, fountains and white streets at the foot of the hills.
Foto: Vitor Oliveira / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Castelo de Amieira do Tejo
Amieira do Tejo
A 14th-century National Monument, with a keep over 20 m high.
Foto: Vitor Oliveira / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Praia Fluvial da Amieira
Amieira do Tejo
Over half a kilometre of sand by the Tagus, with a grassy area.
Foto: Vitor Oliveira / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Passadiços de Nisa · Barca d'Amieira
Nisa
A 3.6 km trail to the transparent skywalk over the Tagus, at the Fratel dam.
Foto: Filipe Fortes / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Nisa — queijo, olaria e bordados
Nisa
Town of the Nisa PDO cheese, of quartz-inlaid pottery and of embroidery.
Foto: GualdimG / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Parque Natural do Tejo Internacional
Nisa
The Tagus valley on the border, with birdwatching: vultures and black storks.
Foto: Helguss / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Portas de Ródão
Vila Velha de Ródão
A natural monument: the Tagus gorge between quartzite cliffs.
Foto: Alvesgaspar / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Castelo de Belver
Gavião
A Templar castle above the Tagus, halfway between hills and river.
Foto: Guy MOLL / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Varanda do Grão-Prior
Crato
The sixteenth-century loggia of the Grand Prior's Palace of the Order of Malta, Crato's best-known landmark.
Foto: Roundtheworld / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ponte de Vila Formosa
Seda · Alter do Chão
A Roman bridge over the Seda stream, six arches and almost two thousand years old, on the old road to Alter do Chão.
Foto: © Museu do Sabão · Município de Gavião
Museu do Sabão
Belver · Gavião
In Belver's old primary school, one of the world's few soap museums, with workshops and a shop of handmade soaps.
Foto: © Município do Crato (cm-crato.pt)
Biblioteca Municipal do Crato
Crato
An eighteenth-century building that served as the town jail until the mid-twentieth century, now a library, exhibition gallery and internet space.
Foto: © Município do Crato (cm-crato.pt)
Parque Aquático do Crato
Crato
Pools, a 30-metre water slide and a diving pool, with a bar and terrace. Open in the bathing season, ideal for families.
Foto: Alfredo Balreira / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Cidade Romana de Ammaia
São Salvador da Aramenha · Marvão
The ruins of a Roman city at the foot of Marvão: the south gate, columns, baths and a small museum.
Foto: autor desconhecido / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede
Portalegre · Castelo de Vide · Marvão
The mountain range rising above 1,000 metres between Portalegre, Castelo de Vide and Marvão. Trails, viewpoints and granite villages.
Foto: Vitor Oliveira / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Praia Fluvial do Alamal
Gavião
A sandy Tagus beach below Belver castle, with a beach bar. One of the river's most beautiful bathing spots.
Foto: © Município do Crato (cm-crato.pt)
Museu Municipal do Crato
Crato
The archaeology and ethnography collection that tells the story of the municipality, in a manor house in town.
Foto: Roundtheworld / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Menir da Meada
Póvoa e Meadas · Castelo de Vide
The tallest menhir in the Iberian Peninsula, over seven metres high, standing alone among cork oaks for thousands of years.
Foto: FenandoLBMaria / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Castelo de Alter do Chão
Alter do Chão
A fourteenth-century castle built by order of King Pedro I, in the centre of town. A short hop from the royal stud farm.
Foto: GualdimG / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Vila de Nisa
Nisa
The Gothic gates of the old walls, Porta de Montalvão and Porta da Vila, guard streets of shops, cheese and embroidery.