Alentejo is characterized by vineyards, hilltop villages enclosed by walls, forests, and olive groves, spanning from the Atlantic coast to the Spanish border. The Alqueva Lake is Western Europe’s largest man-made reservoir, featuring hidden bays, inlets, and recreational spots like Amieira River Beach. Amieira Marina offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, and nearby accommodations such as Montimerso SkyScape Country House provide lake views. Moura is a small city of narrow streets and white-washed houses adorned with colorful pots. Jardim Doutor Santiago hosts a fern-laden alcove and a cascading spring near a historic castle, with benches among abundant foliage.
For some dozen years, I've made a point to visit Portugal often, from the mainland to its islands. I've traveled in all four seasons to big cities and small villages alike - but, rather than battling the throngs that crowd the streets of Lisbon and Porto, I always find myself revisiting the Alentejo region. Don't get me wrong: I love all of Portugal, but I have a soft spot for the Alentejo's stunning landscape, which encompasses vineyards, wall-enclosed hilltop villages, forests, and olive groves.
Stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Spanish border, Alentejo is also the largest province in Portugal, so it's no easy feat to narrow down the best things to do and see there. These are a few of the landmarks, villages, and sites that I keep coming back to, again and again. The Alqueva Lake is the largest man-made lake in Western Europe - and there's loads to do nearby.
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