As an identity, Portugal was formed in 868 although it would not be settled as a kingdom until the middle of the 12th century, following the Reconquista or “reconquest” of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.
The Age of Discovery, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, would mark Portugal’s pinnacle. Under the patronage of Prince Henry the Navigator and King John II, the Portuguese pioneered maritime exploration. Fabled voyages were helmed by Bartolomeu Dias, who traveled beyond the Cape of Good Hope in 1488 and Vasco da Gama who found a sea route to India in 1498. In 1500, Portuguese sailors landed on the shores of what would become Brazil. Such expeditions facilitated the nation’s rise as an economic, political, and military powerhouse. It would come to control the spice trade through its expanding reach into Africa and Asia, first establishing trading posts and later colonies.
The Lisbon earthquake in 1755, occupation under Napoleon beginning in 1807, and loss of its largest colony with Brazilian independence in 1822 would all contribute to the eventual sunset on Portuguese power. (Interestingly, with the handover of Macau to China only in 1999, Portugal’s may be considered the longest lasting colonial empire in history.)
Reliant since the Middle Ages on agriculture, livestock, and forestry, the Alentejo is famous for traditional cheeses, wines, olive oil, smoked ham, and sausages. Marble and cork are also prevalent industries. In fact, the Alentejo is the world's most important area for cork production. Called sobreiro in Portuguese, the cork-oak tree has been grown commercially here for more than 300 years, most commonly through a form of silvopasture where space between trees is given over to grazing. In some particularly fertile areas, cork is intercropped with citrus, vines, or olives. Centuries of carefully managed agriculture allow the Alentejo to boast a rich and varied ecosystem from which emerge the most delectable of flavors.
Around the table, we taste the treasures of the region. Portuguese cuisine is considered part of the UNESCO-recognized Mediterranean Diet with its emphasis on legumes, cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, cured meats, fish, olive oil, wine, and commensality. In the Alentejo specifically, dishes reflect the region’s subsistence farming roots in simple yet creative fare showcasing seasonal ingredients, locally available. In terms of wine, Portugal has the second largest number of indigenous grape varieties (after Italy) of any country in Europe—possibly in the world. Many of these are found in the Alentejo and nowhere else. Let’s discover its distinctive grapes, well-adapted to the hot, dry climate, which have helped to put the Alentejo on the wine map.
Besides Lisbon (that we explore together on our tour on foot), we spend time in the charming fortified cities of Évora, Elvas (both UNESCO World Heritage sites), Monsaraz, and in elegant Vila Viçosa, all with their tidy squares and tended parks. Everywhere there is color: Whitewashed facades are trimmed in blue, green, purple, and yellow, or adorned in ornate tiles; burnt orange and magenta flowers spill over walls and doorways. Whiffs of eucalyptus, coriander, and wisteria travel on the wind, and the cheerful songs of resident parakeets fill the narrow cobblestone lanes. A feast for all the senses, the Alentejo awaits! Come with us to explore this lesser-known part of Portugal, either by bicycle or on foot and by van.
Enjoy your vacation at your own pace, balancing time on two wheels or on foot with other delights in terms of culture, tradition, and flavor. See you in Portugal!
