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 …
ALSO: Anta da Cerca da Francisquinha There’s little left of the original construction of this tomb. It’s somewhat forlorn and tattered from age and raiding. However, it has been recently refurbished and it seems to sit a little more upright and enjoy its place on the top of a hill in the Algarve sunshine. It’s …
ALSO KNOWN AS: Artificial Caves (Grutas Artificiais) of Tojal de Vila Chã Stand on the hilltop and listen. You can hear the hum of traffic on the nearby motorway. Heavy vehicles from the waterworks next door rumble softly. Aeroplanes gently roar overhead. Otherwise, within the fence, all is quiet. Wind blows the grass, and whistles …
In Portuguese: Grutas do Poço Velho Under the bustling town, lies a twisting labyrinth of limestone karst caves. Feel the cold, smooth stone as you duck your head: those stones have been worn away by humans for tens of thousands of years. Look into the rounded nooks: people have lain their departed loved ones there. …
Also called: Tholos of Cumeada On a hill in the heart of the Algarve, a bare dead tree holds vigil over an ancient megalithic tomb. The surrounding hills provide a backdrop of forest and low scrub, leaving the stones standing out under the hot sun. In the quiet, the millennia that stretch between its construction …
High on a hill, surrounded by nothing but low scrub and forest, stands an abandoned and ruined site: a shattered windmill tower beside the road, forlorn. Just beyond lies the far more ancient Anta da Masmorra, showing less damage than the (relatively) modern windmill. This prehistoric tomb rests quietly in relative anonymity and isolation. It …
Sit on the hill and take in the vista of the Algarve countryside all around you. No town is near enough to hear. You might hear the birds, or possibly barking dogs, but mostly you’ll hear the wind. The dolmen enjoys this peace and quiet, and has done for thousands of years. The noise and …
Also called: Anta de Pavia The enormous dolmen stands proudly in the square, grey and hulking beside the traditional yellow and white Alentejana buildings. It presents its original rear towards the square, but as you head around to its entrance its transformation becomes clear. The squared-off stone entranceway replaces the original corridor, and the cross …
Sitting in the quiet & peaceful church, you can contemplate faith and history at the same time. The church itself dates back to the 16th century, and the hundreds of years of devotion has permeated the azulejo tiles, marble altar, and beautiful stained-glass windows devoted to its patron saint. Then you turn and enter the …
Stand on the grassy hillside, facing west, surrounded by cork oak trees, and notice the wind blowing and the birds calling. In the far distance, you can just hear the hum of cars & possibly the noise of farmers calling out to their workers. In the far distance, you can glimpse the city of Évora. …