Crato – Historic Town in Portugal’s Alentejo
We visited Crato, down the road from the magical Pousada of Flor da Rosa, to see the castle of Crato and try and trace some of the town walls.
Montalvao – fortified hilltop town on the Portuguese border
Near the border with Spain the Alentejo is wide, open, and empty. Lush, green grass covers soft hills, and cork oaks and olive trees are everywhere. Surprisingly there are few sheep and cattle – farming here seems very ‘quiet’ and unobtrusive – … Continued
The backroads from Vila Vicosa to Flor da Rosa completed
Early afternoon in Campo Maior felt like being in a remote and lonely part of Portugal, near the Spanish border, yet we were only two hours away from Lisbon Airport! It was raining again as we left Campo Maior but along the road to Arronches the … Continued
Castles in Portugal’s Alentejo – Juromenha
Today’s photographs were taken with the Canon Powershot 200 SCX in one hand while the other hand gripped an umbrella. The camera was set on Live View and shots edited in Lightroom. It is an extraordinary little camera which even copes with shots … Continued
The Backroads from Vila Vicosa to Flor da Rosa – the start
The clouds were low and it was dark and wet as we set off from Vila Viçosa for the Pousada at Flor da Rosa. We could have whizzed directly there up fast, new roads, 85 km in 1.5 hours, but then you see … Continued
Mourao Castle in monotone
Does monotone convey the atmosphere of Mourão Castle more strongly…
Castles in Portugal’s Alentejo – Mourao
Mourão was another of the border towns disputed by Spain and Portugal in the 13C until in 1297 King Dinis signed the Treaty of Alcañices with the Spanish King, Fernando IV, and Mourão became a Portuguese possession, although the fighting and disputes … Continued
Castles in Portugal’s Alentejo -Monsaraz
The Iberian Peninsula has been inhabited for an eye-popping length of time, and this is evident in the area around Monsaraz as seen in the many megalithic sites – antas, circles, standing stones dating from c.5,000 BC or earlier.
Castles in Portugal’s Alentejo – Terena
The Castle of Terena was one of the chain of castles either built or fortified by King Dinis (1261-1365) to protect the borders of Portugal from Spain. The castles in this area (we were based in Vila Vicosa) are Elvas, Juromenha, … Continued