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Route 1: Alvito, Vidigueira, Cuba and Ferreira do Alentejo.
Route 2: The Left Bank of the Guadiana river includes the municipalities of Moura, Barrancos, Serpa and Mértola.
Route 3: Campo Branco – Campo Branco (White Lands) is the name given to an area that includes aproximately the districts of Aljustrel, Almodôvar, Ourique and Castro Verde.
Route 4: Beja – Beja, the roman Pax Julia, is the main city of the region and is worth taking time.
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Visiting the Lands of Bread and Wine is getting to know the municipalities in which the wine production marks the landscape and the way of life. We propose in this route a visit to Alvito, Vidigueira, Cuba and Ferreira do Alentejo.
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Start your visit in the village of Alvito with its castle, an old manor house of the 15th century, that is now a Pousada. The village has a strong 16th century atmosphere given by the pillory, the chapel of São Sebastião and the decorative details of the houses. Other places to visit are the main church from the 16th c., the Misericórdia church, today holding a small exhibition of sacred art, where a pannel of azulejos (tiles) with figures of exotic women decorates the altar and takes us back to the imagination of the time of the Discoveries.
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From here our journey goes on in the direction of Vila Ruiva, but through Albergaria dos Fusos in order to pass the manor house of Água de Peixes and the roman bridge that was once part of the road from Pax Julia (Beja) to Ebora (Évora). In Vila Ruiva the main church of mediaeval origin and decorated with beautiful frescoes is a compulsory visit. If you're curious about the life of insects you can visit the Insectozoo, a museum dedicated to social insects. Our next stop is Vila Alva where you must visit the sacred art museum in the Misericórdia church, roam in the village streets, admire the main church with its round belfry, and notice all the small details that give a special charm to this village. Now we follow to Vila de Frades and before arriving there is a mandatory stop at the ruins of São Cucufate. We associate the name with that of the convent that was here until the 16thc., but the importance of the site is due to the roman villa that the building was originally. From the ruins we see today it is possible to imagine the magnificence of this house while it was a residence of roman lords.
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In Vila de Frades we must climb to the chapel of Santo António: from up there we may perceive all the variety of landscapes the Alentejo offers, from a patchwork of small orchards, vineyards and olive groves, to the wide corn fields. We choose Vila de Frades to talk about something that applies to any of the villages in this route: the survival of the old wine-cellars with their own wine production which is kept in huge pots (talhas) and the famous snacks that go with the glass of wine.
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Next we go to Vidigueira a small town associated with the navigator Vasco da Gama, who was created Earl of this village by King Manuel I. Here we may visit the Misericórdia church and the local Wine Cooperative which takes part in the Alentejo Wine Route.
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Then we drive on to Cuba , where the church of São Vicente keeps the doors open to visitors who want to see its beautiful azulejos. This is also a wine producing village, and wine is always associated with singing, of which Cuba is proof since it has quite a number of choirs
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We leave to Ferreira do Alentejo and on the way pass Peroguarda , whose charms were felt by the ethnomusicologist Giacometti. On arriving to Ferreira do Alentejo we can visit the main church, but the highlights of this village is the handicraft: the colourful baskets from Odivelas, the forged iron furniture and the painted furniture. Finally, if you need refreshing just go to the Odivelas dam where you have the opportunity to canoe or simply feel the breeze by the water.
Courtesy of: Região de Turismo Planície Dourada
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