Soccer, like everywhere in the country
In Portugal, football is no joke! It's the number 1 sport, far ahead of all others. A Bola, the daily soccer newspaper, is as sacred as the sport it specializes in. In fact, it's the best-selling daily in the country, far ahead of the general newspapers. All you have to do is turn on the TV, there's always a match on. And it's always a moment of reunion for the whole family or for groups of supporters, whether in the stadium stands or in bars all over the country. Unfortunately, the Alentejo region's teams don't stand out for their performances, and there are no clubs in the top two divisions.
The traditional touradas
Portuguese bullfights are the equivalent of Spanish corridas, except that they are always performed on horseback, the bull is not bled at the start of the bullfight, and the animal is not killed at the end. Originally, the tourada was reserved for the aristocracy. The servants, on foot, were only there to help their master when he was in difficulty. The tourada is governed by very strict rules, some of which are outlined below. The bull is bullfighted in two phases. The first phase begins with a horse race between the rider(cavaleiro) and the bull. The rider tests the bull with a series of twists and turns, during which he places three banderillas between the bull's horns. Then, with a second horse, the rider and bull perform a dance show in the arena to the accompaniment of a brass band. Only the town of Barrancos practices bullfighting. In the rest of the region and the country, the bull is 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 ecopiste between Évora and Arraiolos.
Rota Vicentina. One of the best-known trails is the Rota Vicentina along the coast. The www.portuguesetrails.com website gives you all the possible itineraries and lists accommodation. You can choose duration, level of difficulty and distance. This is another option for a long-distance trail along the magnificent Vicentine coast, stretching from Santiago do Cacém to Cape St. Vincent (in the Algarve). With a length of 300 km, there are two routes to choose from: the historic route along the old path through the various towns, or the fishermen's route along the coast to the beaches. Each stage is between 15 and 22 km long, with accommodation available. For further information: www.rotavicentina.com.
A birdwatching paradise
Portugal is one of Europe's top destinations for birdwatching. If you have the patience to stay and watch the skies, you're sure to catch a glimpse of one of the 430 species present in the country. The Alentejo is a great place to do this, whether it's around Castro Verde (in Campo Branco), on the hill of Evoramonte Castle, in the Parque Natural da serra de São Mamede or along the entire coastline (especially in the lagoon of the Santo Andre and Sancha nature reserve). This region is also home to Europe's largest flying bird: the bustard (a type of turkey that can weigh up to 16 kilos). You can only see it at Castro Verde in Campo Branco. The Vale Gonçalinho Environmental Education Centre also offers a number of environmental tours, mentioning the most interesting points, and rents out equipment. Last but not least, a number of tourist agencies offer birdwatching tours to "strategic locations".
Beautiful horseback rides
All along the coastline, you can enjoy horseback riding. It's a great way to admire the landscape without walking for hours. You don't need to have a good level of horsemanship, as these rides are generally open to all. Lusitano thoroughbreds are world-renowned, and this breed (most of which are grey) is one of the oldest ever ridden. Saddle up!
Swimming and water sports
The region boasts numerous beaches, often small coves, some of which are still little frequented. To the north of the coast, you'll find large stretches of pristine white sand, as at Comporta. Further south, you'll find beaches nestled in cliffs that are virtually inaccessible. The perfect opportunity to relax while admiring the blue of the ocean. Worth a visit: Brejos (considered a hidden treasure on the Troia peninsula) and the rather isolated Aberta Nova beach. South of Comporta, the Praia do Carvalhal is a good spot for seaside fish. Melides beach is THE place to be for surfers and bodyboarders. But it's not the only spot for surfing and bodyboarding: you can also go to the praia Sant Torpes, near Porto Covo. And all along the coast, there's plenty to do: swimming, sailing, windsurfing, surfing, kayaking and stand-up paddling are all available. For calmer waters, you can take advantage of artificial lakes such as Alqueva.
At night, we raise our heads!
Did you know that the Alentejo is home to a protected area certified as a Starlight Tourism Destination? The area around Lake Alqueva has very little light pollution, making it very easy to observe the stars. That's why the municipalities surrounding the lake - Alandroal, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portel, Mourão, Moura and Barrancos - have joined forces to preserve this state of affairs. They reduce lighting at night so you can enjoy the starry sky. We recommend a night-time canoe or kayak trip on Lake Alqueva: magic guaranteed!
