Walking through the fields in this Alto Alentejo countryside, horses gambol around you. Splash across the small stream and look up at the hill before you. A towering eucalyptus tree near its top stands out in the landscape, and you make for it. As you climb the hill, the trees clear out and you see …
Portuguese name: Museu de Arqueologia e Etnografia de Elvas António Tómas Pires As you explore this historic building, you can look at historic displays while walking through one. The walls show one part of history, and the displays reveal many others. Videos show the work done in the bakeries in the building during recent years, …
Walk through the quiet village of São Geraldo, and turn down the small lane of Rua Esquerda. Say “bom dia” to the old gentlemen sitting in chairs on the lane outside their houses, having a chat. Then, when you see the silver metal historic plaque from Évora Turismo at the end of the lane, look …
Name in Portuguese: Museu Interativo do Megalitismo de Mora Step inside the old railway station, and the learning experience begins. A museum focused on antiquity is housed in a building that has been architecturally updated to the 21st century. High technology is used to immerse the visitor into the life and experiences of prehistoric peoples. …
Also known as: Anta da Herdade das Comendas It’s not a famous site, or one particularly noteworthy for archaeological artefacts. The farmer’s fence keeps you from walking in and around the stones. It’s easy to overlook while rushing down the road. But, if you take the time to stop and walk along the edge of …
Also known as: Anta de Vale Beiró & Antas (Grande & Pequeno) de Caminho da Fanica Driving along the N2, Portugal’s iconic “National Road #2,” you experience the richness of the country’s geography and history. Driving along the long stretches of Alentejo countryside, you might be tempted to speed up and get to the next …
Also known as: Anta do Outeiro de Santa Clara An anta (or dolmen) with a polygonal chamber, seven uprights and an intact capstone. Its corridor has two existing uprights and a covering stone to the side. It’s on private land the capstone is lined with small stones, probably from the nearby field. Perhaps the most …
Also known as: Antas da Tapada As you drive out of Pavia, heading towards Estremoz, it’s tempting to put the boot down and save time. But slow down and look to your left. Less than a kilometer out of town, lies a beautiful example of prehistoric architecture. Nestled under a tree, on a small hill, …
Also known as: Cromeleque do Monte das Fontainhas Velhas Standing above the flat sandy soil, the stones aim for the sky, pointing the way to heaven. Walking among them, feeling their smooth shapes and measuring their arrangement, one can only ponder their construction and purpose. Was this a temple? An astronomical marker? A social gathering …
In the quiet countryside of the Alto Alentejo, the water of the Santa Margarida stream flows slowly down to the Montargil reservoir. Along its banks, if you look carefully among the trees and bushes, lie two prehistoric tombs made of schist. They’ve endured some rough handling through the ages since they were built, both by …