Itineraries and Territory

4 Days to Explore the Region

Day 1 – Quinta do Barrieiro, Ammaia, Portagem and Marvão

A morning at the estate, bathed in the light of the rising sun: paths lined with sculptures alongside the lakes and up the hillside to the rock formation. Head to Ammaia (museum and Roman ruins). Have lunch in Portagem and take a stroll to the 16th-century bridge over the River Sever, the medieval tower and the river pool. Climb up to Marvão along the medieval cobbled street – on foot if you prefer – to the village, the municipal museum, the garden and the castle. Don’t miss the sunset from the keep, having dinner either before or after.

Day 2 – Castelo de Vide and Senhora da Penha

Take the Alameda dos Freixos (N246-1). Wander through the town’s streets, visiting the Parish Church of Nossa Senhora da Devesa, the castle, the Jewish quarter, the synagogue and the Fonte da Vila, stopping for a coffee at Pastelaria Sol Nascente or Doces & Companhia. In the afternoon, visit the Chapel of Senhora da Penha (only on foot if you have 4 hours) and return via the M523, stopping at the Fonte dos Carvoeiros viewpoint to take in the Alentejo plains and an excellent sunset.

Day 3 – A day in the countryside

Start at the Apartadura dam: walk all the way round the banks, beginning on the left-hand side of the dam wall, next to the green metal bin. Head to the São Julião waterfall. Have lunch in Alegrete and explore the medieval village and the castle. If you have time to spare, visit Pego do Inferno. Don’t forget to bring your swimming gear.

Day 4 – Portalegre and the peak of the mountain range

Take the road via Ribeira de Nisa and Monte Paleiros. In the morning: the Guy Fino Tapestry Museum, the castle and the cathedral; if there’s time, the Robinson Museum or the José Régio House Museum. In the afternoon, head up to the summit of the Serra de São Mamede via the Salão Frio road. On the way down, turn left at the first junction towards Ribeira de Arronches (the Lourenço valley, very green and with its own microclimate); then head for Soverete and Besteiros, followed by Rabaça and Espanha, until you reach the vicinity of the Cabroeira waterfall. Return via the São Julião valley.

The territory

Serra de São Mamede Natural Park. The Quinta lies at its heart. It is the most significant mountain range south of the Tagus and covers some 56,000 hectares across the municipalities of Marvão, Castelo de Vide, Portalegre and Arronches, marking the transition between the plain and the mountains. These geographical variations create microclimates that have fostered species crucial to its classification. Among the birds are Bonelli’s eagle, the griffon vulture and the black stork. The landscape consists of quartzite ridges (particularly near the border and in Castelo de Vide), outcrops of granite, schist and limestone, and agricultural fields, with farming being the main economic activity.

Water and viewpoints

São Julião: A drop of around 10 metres in the Xévora River valley, with pools to cool off in. Park at 39°18’57.5″N, 7°19’54.3″W, head down one of the paths on the right and follow the sound of the water; you’ll pass an old schist quarry – about 15 minutes’ walk.

Taken from Hell: the most impressive one, near Mosteiros, on the edge of the park. Park at 39°11’51.5″N, 7°17’06.5″W, next to the granite signpost, and walk down the path on the right for about 5 minutes.

Cabroeira: near Rabaça and the border, about a 30-minute walk away.

Ribeira de Arronches: the smallest one, near the summit of the mountain range.

The peak of the São Mamede mountain range: 360° viewpoint at 1,025 metres.

Apartadura Dam: It supplies Portalegre, 5 km from the estate. Riverbanks ideal for walking and canoeing.

Portalegre

The district capital and, in days gone by, a town of convents – seven of which are still in use – this is where the poet and writer José Régio spent much of his life; his House-Museum is open to visitors.

O castle, fortified and rebuilt by King Dinis until the early 14th century, has three towers: the North Tower (the largest) and the West Tower, connected by a wall, and the Keep, separated by Rua do Castelo. Of the medieval wall, which had 12 towers and 8 gates, the Porta de Alegrete, the Porta do Crato (Arco do Bispo) and the Porta da Devesa remain.

A Cathedral, which forms part of the Cathedral Route, is predominantly Renaissance in style with Baroque elements; construction began in 1556 and took around 50 years. Of the city’s monastic heritage, the Convent of São Francisco, the Convent of Santa Clara and the Monastery of São Bernardo are open to visitors; there are also the convents of Santo António, Santo Agostinho and São Brás, and the College of São Sebastião.

In the industry, the Robinson Factory, a cork-processing plant owned in the 19th century by the Robinson Bros Cork Company, was once the town’s largest employer and closed in 2009. Today, visitors can explore its museum centre. Wool mills were a key part of the local economy between 1775 and 1800, and the Royal Wool Mill now houses the Town Hall. In 1947, Roseta Fino founded the Portalegre Tapestry Manufactory; Guy Fino and Manuel Celestino Peixeiro were the creators of the first tapestry, considered the finest in the world by the artist Jean Lurçat. The Municipal Museum is also well worth a visit.

Highlights of the events include the Baja Portalegre and the Conventual and Traditional Sweets Fair, held at the Convent of Santa Clara or the Convent of São Bernardo.

Around the region

Crato: castle, Town Hall and Clock Tower; very close by, the fortified church of Santa Maria de Flor da Rosa.

Alter do Chão: the castle and the Alter Stud Farm, which has been dedicated to the breeding of the Alter Real breed for over 250 years. Once a year, the Hot-Air Balloon Festival.

Nisa: delicious cheeses, the castle, the Chapel of the Misericórdia and the Chapel of Calvário.

Elvas (55 km): the castle, the Amoreira Aqueduct, the Graça Fort and the Santa Luzia Fort, the historic centre and the city walls, which have been listed by UNESCO since 2012. Nearby, in Campo Maior, is the Delta Coffee Science Centre.

Belver and Alamal (65 km): the castle overlooking the Tagus and the footbridges.

Spain (11.5 km): Valencia de Alcántara (Church of Nuestra Señora de Rocamador, 15th–17th centuries, Church of La Encarnación, Convent of San Bartolomé and the Gothic Quarter), Albuquerque (castle overlooking the cork oak forest at sunset) and, further afield, Cáceres and Badajoz.