Day 1 in Estremoz

Welcome to Estremoz! Upon arrival in Portugal, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Make your way to Estremoz and arrive at your hotel. Check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

Start your sightseeing adventure at the Lago do Gadanha, one of the largest public fountains in the entire Alentejo region. From there, make your way to the Igreja de Sao Francisco, the final resting place for many notable Portuguese historic figures, including Vasco Esteves Gatuz and Frederick of Portugal. Afterwards, go to the Praca Luis de Camoes and view the installation of the town pillory (Pelourinho de Estremoz), dating from the 16th century.

Nearby is the Convento dos Maltesas, where an installation of nuns lives and worships alongside academics from the Estremoz Science Center and the University of Evora. After taking a tour through the convent, we recommend winding down at one of the cafes in and around one of the busiest squares in town, the Rossio Marques de Pombal. Do take some time to admire the stunning facade of one of those cafes, the Cafe Aguias D'Ouro, which is listed as a protected national treasure.

Day 2 in Estremoz

Start your day by driving your rental car ten miles northeast of Estremoz to the town of Veiros. Explore Veiros Castle, built on the site of a Roman settlement. Drive back to Estremoz and learn about the royal palace-turned-fortress known as Estremoz Castle. Bordering the property is the beautiful Capela da Rainha Santa Isabel, honoring King Dinis`s wife Isabel. Learn about the agricultural, industrial and folk history of Estremoz by visiting the Museu Municipal Professor Joaquim Vermelho.

After touring the museum, drive eleven miles southwest to the town of Evora Monte, where Evoramonte Castle is located. An imposing granite structure, Evoramonte Castle was the site of the cease-fire that ended the Liberal Wars in 1834. When you`re done, drive approximately forty miles to the east to the town of Elvas, the last town on the A6 motorway before the Spanish border. Elvas Castle was a key fortification during the 17th century Restoration War between the Portuguese and the Spanish. Between 1570 and 1881, Elvas was a large enough town to warrant its own Roman Catholic diocese, meaning the current Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assuncao was once the Cathedral of Elvas. Wrap up your visit to Elvas by driving about three-quarters of a mile north to the newly-renovated Forte de Nossa Senhora da Graca. Like Elvas Castle, the Forte de Nossa Senhora da Graca is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 3 in Estremoz

Today`s itinerary will take you to a selection of charming Alentejo castles. First thing in the morning, head south, driving approximately an hour and a half to the town of Mourao, where Mourao Castle is in tip-top structural condition even after eight centuries protecting the Portuguese borderlands. Ten minutes away by car is the Medieval-era Monsaraz Castle, located in the village of the same name. Take some time to explore Monsaraz, a small town of 800, and stop for lunch at one of the restaurants in the middle of town.

Afterwards, drive forty minutes to the north to the town of Alandroal. Make your way to Alandroal Castle, which King Dinis I commissioned in the same time period as the castle located in Monsaraz. Now, decide if you would like to travel fifteen minutes southwest to Redondo Castle or fifteen minutes north to Vila Vicosa Castle. No matter which castle you visit, be sure to spend some time in the town of Borba, fifteen minutes from Vila Vicosa and fifteen minutes from Estremoz. Take a water bottle and partake in a few sips from one of the spouts at the famed Fonte das Bicas before finding a place in town to enjoy an early dinner or snack. When driving back into town, take the N4 road to ensure you pass through the marble arch of the Porta dos Currais when re-entering Estremoz.

Additional Days in Estremoz

Beja, an hour and a half`s drive south-southwest of Estremoz, should be a high priority for anyone who wants to experience the rich history of the Alentejo region. The Celts were the first people to live here. Following the Celts were the Romans, then the Lusitanians (the ancestors of today`s Portuguese people), then the Visigoths, and finally the Moors before the modern Portuguese army finally claimed the city as their own in 1234. Notable sights in Beja include the castle, which features the tallest keep in Portugal at over 160 feet; the Visigothic Museum; and the Museum dedicated to Queen Eleanor of Viseu.

The Portuguese and Spanish borderlands share a lot of the same history, and you will find that is true for the largest city in the Spanish region of Extremadura, Badajoz. Badajoz is located approximately thirty minutes east of the town of Elvas by car, on the Lisbon-Madrid highway (A6 in Portugal, A-5 in Spain). Badajoz has risen from the ashes many times, after the Peninsular War, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Spanish Civil War had ravaged the city. Today, the jewel on the Guadiana River welcomes tourists to experience its eventful yet thorny history. Notable sights include the Alcazaba of Badajoz; a reproduction of La Giralda in Seville; Puerta Palmas; and the Jardines de la Galera, among others.

An hour and a half north of Estremoz is the town of Castelo Branco. Settlements have existed in the area since Roman times, although the Knights Templar had a hand in writing the first chapter of Castelo Branco`s modern history when they helped build the city walls and the city`s castle in the 13th century. Sights in town include the elaborately-designed Garden of the Episcopal Palace, the Cathedral of Castelo Branco, and the former bishop`s palace, the Francisco Tavares Proenca Jr. Museum.

Your Last Day in Estremoz

Depart your hotel and head to the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer; if so, a representative will meet you at the hotel in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.