ÉVORA, ESPORÃO WINERY & MONSARAZ TOUR (9h)
This tour of Évora, Esporão winery and Monsaraz will be a journey of intense sensations through the Alentejo, the most extensive region in Portugal and also the most sparsely populated. The beauty of its natural landscape, the greatness of its monumental heritage and the richness of its gastronomy and wines invite us to an exciting discovery.
We will start the tour in the region’s capital, Évora, one of the most emblematic cities in Portugal, reflecting the perfect combination between its unique historical heritage and its cosmopolitan and friendly side. It is undoubtedly one of the richest and most different cities in the country, whose heritage spans different eras, and its historical centre was awarded as world heritage by UNESCO. Testimonies of its Roman occupation are still preserved today and the remains of its Arab past are clearly visible in its popular architecture and gastronomy. The formation of the nationality led to the construction of several convents, where the most famous local pastries were created, and later, in the XV and XVI centuries, during the maritime discoveries, it was the residence of the kings and centre of the vast Portuguese empire.
During this tour of Évora, you will discover with us its main attractions, namely its splendid Roman Temple, the city's brand image, built in the middle of the I century, one of the best preserved in the Iberian Peninsula; its amazing Cathedral, dating from the end of the XII century, which stands out as the largest medieval cathedral in the country; the ancient University of Évora, founded in 1559, the second university created in Portugal, after the foundation of the University of Coimbra; the charming Giraldo Square, the main square in Évora, which honours its conqueror, Geraldo the fearless, who took the city from the Arabs in 1165; and the incredible Bones’ Chapel, a mandatory stop on this tour, which is part of the Royal Church of St. Francis, whose walls and ceilings are covered with bones from the city's cemeteries.
After visiting Évora, we will continue the tour and we will take you to the renowned Esporão winery, which is located nearby, in Reguengos de Monsaraz, whose foundation dates back to 1267. You will enjoy a fantastic lunch with the traditional Alentejo’s recipes and you feel the quietness of the surrounding landscape, composed by vast hectares of vineyards and a large lake. You will visit next its cellars, where you may discover the secrets of how their wines are produced and get to know one of the ex-libris of this winery, the barrel tunnel, which is 17 m deep, where wines are aging. In the end, you will test your senses with a superb wine tasting.
This tour includes as well one of the most beautiful medieval Portuguese towns, Monsaraz, which lays next to the Guadiana River, on top of a hill that stands out in the Alentejo plains. Protected by its castle and walls, this small town invites us for a relaxing walk through its streets with shale pavement and whitewashed houses, full of nooks that offer us a breath-taking view over the Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in the Europe.
Discover an authentic and unspoiled Alentejo with us.
From € 425