Siteseeing

Marvao is a spectacular medieval walled village perched 900 metres high on a rocky crag. The narrow cobbled streets lined with whitewashed houses many with decorative doors and windows from the 15th century, wind their way up to one of the best preserved castles in Portugal dating from the 13th century.

The views from the castle are truly breathtaking looking out over wild rocky landscape towards Spain and the Serra da Estrela mountains in Portugal, which are often snow capped in winter. At dawn, in the evening or when the mists close in Marvao becomes almost eerie as it rises up to touch the sky. This is a very special place

Alegrete is a pretty hilltop village just a few kilometers from the cottages. It still maintains its quaint traditional looking houses some with distinctive arched doorways especially in the old part of the village which stretches from Largo do Coreto (bandstand) up to the remains of the 14th century castle. From the ramparts of the old castle you have a clear view of the farmland below dotted with olive groves and the vast Alentejo plain. It is well served with many small shops, a bakery and bars, restaurants and cafes.

Castelo de Vide is a most attractive small spa town which sits high above the surrounding olive groves at the Northern tip of the Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede. In the lovely old part of the town located in one of the steep narrow lanes adorned with flowers is an ancient synagogue dating from the 13th century. Although a small town it has more than twenty places to eat, almost exclusively serving typically Alentejan dishes.