Beyond the Borders: Alentejo and Extremadura

Marvão is perched high in the Serra de São Mamede near the Spanish border. The fortified village rises on a rocky ridge dominated by a medieval castle that once controlled strategic routes. Its historic centre features granite architecture and sweeping panoramic views across the valley and surrounding mountain ranges. The area belongs to the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park, known for its biodiversity and mountain landscapes. Rural traditions and local cuisine enrich the experience. A destination combining history, nature and quietness.

A picturesque treasure of Extremadura, Cáceres preserves one of Europe's best-kept medieval and Renaissance old towns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enclosed within walls of Roman and Moorish origin, the Ciudad Monumental is a web of silent lanes, noble palaces, battlemented towers and churches that conjure the atmosphere of centuries past intact. The heart of the city is the Plaza de Santa María, dominated by the co-cathedral and ringed by aristocratic residences such as the Palacio de Carvajal and the Palacio de los Golfines de Abajo. Among arches, coats of arms and stork nests perched on the towers, every corner tells of the power of ancient lineages. The local cuisine, rich in Iberian cured meats, cheeses and truffles, completes the experience. Cáceres reveals itself on a stroll at dusk, when the golden stone of its palaces glows with a light suspended in time.

Capital of Extremadura, Mérida holds one of the richest collections of Roman archaeology in Spain, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded as Emerita Augusta, it preserves extraordinary monuments that bear witness to its glorious past: the majestic Roman Theatre, still a venue for performances today, the adjacent Amphitheatre, the long Roman Bridge over the Guadiana River and the remains of the Circus and aqueducts. The modern Museo Nacional de Arte Romano gathers mosaics and sculptures of great value. Among millennia-old ruins and the peaceful atmosphere of a human-scale city, Mérida invites you on a journey back in time, to the heart of ancient Rome.

Located in the heart of the Alentejo, Évora is one of Portugal’s most important historic cities, and since 1986 its historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enclosed by medieval walls and surrounded by countryside dotted with olive trees and cork oaks, it preserves a compact atmosphere shaped by squares, narrow streets, and monuments that tell over two thousand years of history. The Roman heritage is represented by the Roman Temple, known as the Temple of Diana, while the Sé de Évora dominates the city skyline with its Gothic architecture. Nearby stands the Chapel of Bones, decorated with human bones taken from ancient cemeteries. The historic center is organized around Praça do Giraldo, the city’s main square and social hub, connected to a network of streets leading to palaces, convents, and museums. The University, founded in the 16th century, helps keep the city lively. Évora is also a key cultural and gastronomic reference in the Alentejo, known for olive oil, wines, and local traditions. Walking along the city walls at sunset reveals the authentic character of the town. In the surroundings, you can visit the Cromeleque dos Almendres (about 15 km from Évora), one of the most important megalithic complexes in the Iberian Peninsula; Monsaraz (about 55 km), a medieval hilltop village overlooking the Alqueva Lake; Vila Viçosa (about 50 km), with its impressive ducal palace; and, about 100 km away, Elvas, a fortified city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, representing one of the finest examples of military architecture in Portugal.