Alentejo, my beautiful Alentejo
Wide, flat Alentejo with brown cork, yellow wheat and green oak trees.
“Alentejo smells of history, culture and heritage. It tastes of honey, bread sauce and, black pig and wine. It has secrets like the hidden nooks that many people think are only for relaxing and country holidays. But at the end of the day, the region has much more than this, which is what I want to show you!
The first place I have chosen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, is my home town of Évora.
When we arrive at Évora train station, we immediately see the historical part of the town, the history of courage and bravery of fearless Geraldo, depicted in the station glazed tiles that awaken the senses to the discovery of this zone. From there to the town's main square, Praça do Geraldo, you can go on foot as the station is quite close to the centre. We go past the town's garden and park, where you can find the Dom Manuel Palace, currently used for a wide range of free exhibitions. There are fountains and lakes in the garden, along with ducks, peacocks and lots of people of all ages. There is coffee and cakes, and it smells like that and the trees and flowers all around. Then there is the church of São Francisco and the Bone Chapel, a very important place in the town due to its originality and cult. Right in front, we have the fruit and vegetable market and the fish market, a great place to try a sensation of colours and smells that assault your eyes and nose. Rich in handicrafts, the market is also a place to buy what the region makes best, along with the widest range of objects made of cork, clothing and decoration, which can also be found on the two main streets that connect to the main square. Praça do Geraldo is one of the most beautiful places in the country with a special charm; it smells of roasted chestnuts and the colour of marble, the same material the fountain is made of. Arcades, cafés and esplanades are also part of this square, always filled with locals who are specialists in welcoming and treating visitors well. Climbing another road of tourist shops, we come to the cathedral, which you have to visit and where it is easy to get lost in a charmed world even if it is just for the marvellous view from the top of the high walls, it is well worthwhile. From the tallest tower in the cathedral, we can see the entire town and the blue sky. The temple of Diana, built by the Romans to honour the Goddess of hunting, is another symbol of the town, and it sits close to the cathedral in front of a small flower-filled garden brimming with life and colour.
Inês Manuel
