Soccer, like everywhere in the country
In Portugal, they don't joke about football! It is the number one sport, far ahead of all others. A Bola, the daily soccer newspaper, is as famous as the sport it specializes in. It is also the best-selling daily newspaper in the country, far ahead of the general newspapers. You just have to turn on the television, there is always a match on. And it is always a moment of reunion for the whole family or for groups of supporters, whether in the stands of the stadiums or in all the bars of the country. Unfortunately, the teams of the Alentejo region do not stand out for their performance and there are no clubs in the first two divisions.
The traditional touradas
Portuguese bullfights are the equivalent of Spanish bullfights, except that they are always performed on horseback, the bull is not bled at the beginning of the bullfight and the animal is not killed at the end of the show. Originally, the tourada was reserved for the aristocracy. The servants, on foot, were only there to help their master when he was in trouble. The tourada is governed by very strict rules, some of which are outlined below. The bull is bullfighted in two phases. First phase, the show begins with a horse race between the rider(cavaleiro) and the bull. The rider will test the bull with incessant twists and turns, during which he pricks three banderillas between the bull's horns. In a second time (and with a second horse), it is almost a dance show that the rider and the bull deliver in the arena to the sound of the band. It should be noted that only the town of Barrancos practices the killing in the bullring. In the rest of the region and the country, the bull is then taken to the slaughterhouse...
An ideal destination for hiking
The Alentejo is an ideal destination for hiking and mountain biking. There are many possibilities, such as the 30 km mountain bike route from Cuba to Vila Alva, the PR1 or "Route de la Serra" (17 km, start and finish in Grândola), the PR2 "São Domingos" from Odimera (start in the village of São Luís, 8.1 km, medium difficulty) or the eco-trail between Évora and Arraiolos
Rota Vicentina. One of the most famous trails is the Rota Vicentina, along the coast. The site www.portuguesetrails.com will give you the possible routes with also lists of accommodations. It allows you to choose the duration, the level of difficulty and the distance. This is another possibility of a long-distance path to discover the wonderful and grandiose Vicentine coast extending from Santiago do Cacém to Cape Saint-Vincent (in the Algarve). With a length of 300 km, there are two possible routes: the historical route along the old path that crosses the different towns or the fishermen's route that follows the coastline and allows access to the beaches. Each stage is between 15 and 22 km long with accommodation available. For more information: www.rotavicentina.com.
A birdwatching paradise
Portugal is a privileged destination in Europe for birdwatching. If you have the patience to stay and watch the sky, you will surely have the chance to see one of the 430 species present on the territory. The Alentejo is a good option for this activity, whether it is around Castro Verde (in Campo Branco), on the hill of Evoramonte Castle, in the Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede or in the entire coastal area (especially in the lagoon of the Santo Andre and Sancha Nature Reserve). In this region you will find the largest flying bird in Europe: the bustard (a type of turkey that can reach up to 16 kilos). You can only see it in Castro Verde in the Campo Branco. The Environmental Education Center of Vale Gonçalinho also offers some environmental tours mentioning the most interesting points and rents equipment. Finally, some tourist agencies offer observation tours and allow you to go to the "strategic places".
Beautiful horseback rides
On the whole coastal area, you will have the opportunity to go for a horseback ride. It is a very good way to admire the landscape without walking for hours. You don't need to have a good level of horsemanship, in general these rides are for all types of people. Note that the Lusitano thoroughbreds have a worldwide reputation, this breed (most of the horses are grey) is among the oldest ever ridden. In the saddle!
Swimming and water sports
The region has many beaches, often small coves, some of which are still little frequented. To the north of the coastline, there are large stretches of pristine white sand, such as in Comporta. Further south, there are beaches nestled in cliffs and almost inaccessible. The ideal opportunity to relax while admiring the blue of the ocean. Among those worth visiting are Brejos (considered a hidden treasure in the Troia peninsula) and the rather isolated Aberta Nova beach. South of Comporta, the Praia do Carvalhal is a good spot to eat fish by the sea. The beach of Melides is THE place to be for surfers and bodyboarders. But this is not the only spot to practice this activity, you can also go to the praia Sant Torpes, near Porto Covo. And all along the coastline, there are many activities: swimming, sailing or windsurfing, surfing, kayaking or stand-up paddling are practiced everywhere. For calmer waters, you can take advantage of artificial lakes like the one in Alqueva.
At night, we raise our heads!
Did you know that in Alentejo there is a protected area certified as a Starlight Tourism Destination? The area around Lake Alqueva has very low light pollution and therefore it is very easy to observe the stars. Thus, the municipalities surrounding the lake - Alandroal, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portel, Mourão, Moura and Barrancos - have joined their efforts to preserve this state of affairs. They reduce the lighting at night so that you can observe the starry sky. We recommend a canoe or kayak trip at night on theAlqueva lake: magic guaranteed!
