ÉVORA, CARTUXA WINERY & A TRADITIONAL CHEESE FACTORY TOUR (8H)
This private tour combines the charming capital of the Alentejo, Évora, with its delicious delicacies, wine, olive oil and cheese. The Alentejo is a fascinating region to explore, with a unique landscape, characterised by rolling plains as far as the eyes can see and centuries-old olive trees and cork oak trees that give us the cork, used in the production of their traditional handicrafts. Its gastronomy is one of the richest in Portugal, full of flavours, seasoned with the best of olive oils and the most varied aromatic herbs and accompanied by excellent wines. The Alentejo is, without a doubt, a region that seduces us.
Évora is a city with a rich cultural heritage and its historical centre was distinguished as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Its privileged geographical location dictated the settlement of different civilizations over the centuries. The Celts eternalized its name, the Romans built their imposing temple, probably dedicated to the imperial worship and, during the period of the Christian Reconquest of the XII century, it was a strong bulwark in the constitution of the new kingdom of Portugal. Later, during the maritime discoveries of the XV and XVI centuries, it was the residence of several kings, reaching its highest peak.
In this tour of Évora, we will show you its most important points, namely its Roman Temple, the city's ex-libris, built in the middle of the I century, the only one of its kind in Portugal; its imposing Cathedral, whose construction started at the end of the XII century, being the largest medieval cathedral in the country, where you will find a rare statue of our Lady pregnant; the magnificent University of Évora, which was founded in 1559, the second university created in Portugal, after the foundation of the University of Coimbra; the bustling Giraldo Square, the main square in Évora, named after its conqueror, Geraldo the fearless, who took the city from the Moors in 1165; and the impressive Bones’ Chapel, which is part of the Royal Church of St. Francis, whose walls and ceilings are covered with hundreds of human bones that will remain in your memory forever.
During this tour of Évora, you will also visit the famous Cartuxa winery, located 2 km from the historical centre of Évora and 200 m from the Monastery of St. Mary Scala Coeli, better known only as the Monastery of Cartuxa, built in the XVI century, which gives its name to the winery. In fact, it is here that the only Carthusian monks in Portugal still live a life of recollection and prayer. The Cartuxa winery is located in the old refectory of the Jesuits' nursing home, who taught at the University of Évora in the XVI and XVII centuries, and it was acquired by Eugénio de Almeida’s family in the XIX century. Under its banner, excellent wines are produced, namely the well-known Pêra-Manca, as well as exquisite olive oils. This tour will culminate with a fantastic wine and olive oil tasting. Enjoy it.
Lastly, on this Évora tour, we will take you to a cheese factory, where you will savour a wonderful tasting of the famous cured sheep cheese of the region, known for its intense flavour. Bon appétit!
From € 375