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To the visitor it feels like undiscovered territory, a sleepy landscape of empty roads, pretty white villages, fields of half-naked cork-oak trees (the bark harvested from their trunks), vines, olive groves and small towns that have remained practically unchanged for centuries – and perfect road trip country.

The Alentejo covers a huge area, almost a third of the country, stretching south from the Rio Tejo to the northern mountain ranges of the Algarve – the name derives from the words além do Tejo, beyond the Tejo River.

North Alentejo is the part of the province located north of Lisbon, near the frontier to Spain and for that with a line of fortified Castles. The bulk of the region given over to huge cork plantations, vineyards , with historic sites from ancient dolmens to superbly sited castles under Roman ruins. Much of the population still make a living from the huge agricultural estates many have been in existence since Roman times.

The   farms enormous size and the kind of exploration use turns  the region  wildlife friendly – the Alentejo is home to hundreds of species of bird, from black stork to great bustard, some different eagles species as well as wild boar.

For most visitors, the region’s major draws are its towns, two of which have UNESCO World Heritage status: the spectacular fortified town of Elvas, and Évora, whose Roman temple, medieval walls and cathedral have put it firmly on the tourist circuit.

But Alentejo is also a stunning wine region and gourmet cuisine...

a area that has been producing wines since immemorial time

 associated with Portuguese gastronomy involving agriculture ingenuity, marking the habits and customs of a people, revealing itself in art and architecture and creasing so indelibly, but yet sustainable, the landscape.

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