Portugal · The plains
East of Lisbon the land opens into the Alentejo, a wide country of golden plains, cork oaks and whitewashed villages where the pace slows and the wine flows. It is the least hurried corner of Portugal, and one we love for travelers who want to feel they have the country to themselves.
Its heart is Evora, a walled UNESCO city built around a Roman temple, with winding lanes, a soaring cathedral, and the haunting Chapel of Bones lined with the remains of monks. Beyond the walls roll the cork and wine estates of one of Portugal's most respected regions, and hilltop Monsaraz stands guard over the plains and a vast reservoir lake.
An overnight lets you linger over a long Alentejo lunch and a tasting or two, but it also pairs beautifully with Lisbon as a day or two out. Come in spring or fall, when the plains are green and the heat of high summer has eased.
