How best to plan Evora and the Alentejo
Apr 4th, 2022, 05:00 AM
#41
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Too bad, Mike. Are you going to Lisbon after Cascais? We’ll be there for 6 nights, arriving on May 8.
Obidos looks charming, and walking the ramoarts sounds like a great activity, but It’s one of the places that I’m not planning to visit. Of course, I could change my mind. I did add a day to Tomar, so we will have a comfortable exploration of Batalha and Alcobaça. I’m really relieved with 3 nights.
Obidos looks charming, and walking the ramoarts sounds like a great activity, but It’s one of the places that I’m not planning to visit. Of course, I could change my mind. I did add a day to Tomar, so we will have a comfortable exploration of Batalha and Alcobaça. I’m really relieved with 3 nights.
Apr 4th, 2022, 02:34 PM
#42
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We are also planning to visit Castelo de Vide and Marvao, as stops on our way to Evora. Do you think this is wise considering we will have luggage in the car? Is it a fairly safe area? Or should we back track and do it as a day trip from Evora?
Apr 4th, 2022, 02:50 PM
#43
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it's a safe area.
When we make stops moving from hotel to hotel, if we don't leave our car in a monitored underground garage (none in those 2 locations), we park in a very busy area, not remote, like the central square in Castelo da Vide or at a restaurant parking lot where we stop for lunch. We obviously don't leave anything visible in the car, nor do we open the trunk when parking. Just normal precautions.
You might consider having lunch at a restaurant with its own parking area, like Hotel-Restaurant Sever, down by the river's edge. it's a 10-minute drive south of the center of Marvão. Or have lunch in the Pousada de Marvão, that has its own parking lot for guests. The former has river views and the latter, dramatic countryside views from its balcony.
https://www.thefork.com/restaurant/sever-r65242.
https://www.pousadas.pt/en/hotel/pousada-marvao/dining
When we make stops moving from hotel to hotel, if we don't leave our car in a monitored underground garage (none in those 2 locations), we park in a very busy area, not remote, like the central square in Castelo da Vide or at a restaurant parking lot where we stop for lunch. We obviously don't leave anything visible in the car, nor do we open the trunk when parking. Just normal precautions.
You might consider having lunch at a restaurant with its own parking area, like Hotel-Restaurant Sever, down by the river's edge. it's a 10-minute drive south of the center of Marvão. Or have lunch in the Pousada de Marvão, that has its own parking lot for guests. The former has river views and the latter, dramatic countryside views from its balcony.
https://www.thefork.com/restaurant/sever-r65242.
https://www.pousadas.pt/en/hotel/pousada-marvao/dining
Apr 5th, 2022, 12:29 AM
#44
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Progol........Yes! we also arrive in Lisbon on May 8th after Estoril/Cascais for 3 nights. Love to meet for a coffee or a glass of wine. We are staying in the Alfama neighborhood. I have never been to Tomar but I think based on my research it will be more enjoyable than Obidos. No knock on Obidos, it is a special place, just a little too touristy for me. I prefer Ericeira in that area.
Apr 5th, 2022, 06:25 AM
#46
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mike,
So glad to know that you prefer Ericeira. We're headed there for a week on the Silver Coast in mid-October and can hardly wait! So nice that you and progol will be able to meet up in Lisbon!
So glad to know that you prefer Ericeira. We're headed there for a week on the Silver Coast in mid-October and can hardly wait! So nice that you and progol will be able to meet up in Lisbon!
Apr 6th, 2022, 02:34 PM
#47
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A few photos of Castelo de Vide and Marão in the Upper Alentejo
A street in the former Judiaria of Castelo de Vide
The view of whitewashed Castelo de Vide from its castle
Marvão's "eagles' nest" castle
A street in the former Judiaria of Castelo de Vide
The view of whitewashed Castelo de Vide from its castle
Marvão's "eagles' nest" castle
Apr 6th, 2022, 05:36 PM
#49
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progol,
I just FINALLY made my husband upload his thousands and thousands of photos of our Spain-France-Portugal trips to my computer, and I actually figured out how to post them! (major duh!!!)
More here-
The best pão-de-ló de Ovar of our whole trip, from JNĈQUOI in Lisbon
The new pastéis de nata shop in Chiado
Our nata with coffee
Watching the chef at Castro prepare his natas
The dramatic Serra de São Mameda from Castelo de Vide's castle
I just FINALLY made my husband upload his thousands and thousands of photos of our Spain-France-Portugal trips to my computer, and I actually figured out how to post them! (major duh!!!)
More here-
The best pão-de-ló de Ovar of our whole trip, from JNĈQUOI in Lisbon
The new pastéis de nata shop in Chiado
Our nata with coffee
Watching the chef at Castro prepare his natas
The dramatic Serra de São Mameda from Castelo de Vide's castle
Apr 7th, 2022, 06:06 AM
#52
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Oh Maribel,
These look wonderful!!! We'll only have about 5 1/2 hrs for both Marvao + Castelo de Vide, and that includes the time for lunch and drive between the 2 towns, so technically about 4 hrs for them. What/how should we prioritize this time? 2 + 2? 3 + 1?
The other alternative is to break the drive to Douro in Marvao, and skip Monsanto (keeping it would make too long of a drive in a day for us). If we do that, we'd have 2 nights in Marvao/Castelo de Vide. Too long? We are already planning to visit Monsaraz and Obidos, so would this be too repetitive? Decisions, decisions...
These look wonderful!!! We'll only have about 5 1/2 hrs for both Marvao + Castelo de Vide, and that includes the time for lunch and drive between the 2 towns, so technically about 4 hrs for them. What/how should we prioritize this time? 2 + 2? 3 + 1?
The other alternative is to break the drive to Douro in Marvao, and skip Monsanto (keeping it would make too long of a drive in a day for us). If we do that, we'd have 2 nights in Marvao/Castelo de Vide. Too long? We are already planning to visit Monsaraz and Obidos, so would this be too repetitive? Decisions, decisions...
Apr 7th, 2022, 06:50 AM
#53
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progol,
Yes, I think it was pumpkin. We also had a cheese platter there with a side dish of pumpkin chutney. I had more pumpkin on this last trip than ever before.
xyz99,
I would say 2 + 2. They're both really interesting and they both have castles. I've never been to Monsanto. It's on my (too long) list but it's never been on my route.
Would it be too repetitive to visit Monsaraz, Obidos, Marvão and Castelo de Vide? For me, it wouldn't....but I never get tired of exploring Portuguese and Spanish picturesque villages especially the ones off the beaten path.
Here's Monsaraz-
16th c Igreja da Misericórdia
Monsaraz's Main Street, Largo Principal, leading up to the castle
A view of the town from its castle
A small café, O Gaspacho, serving supposedly the best gazpacho in the region.
I thought that Marvão was better "manicured", more well kept than Monsaraz (and the scenery more dramatic), but both are very typically Moorish. The plains around Monsaraz, though, are littered with megaliths--menhirs, cromlechs, dolmens....The Xerez cromlech has 50 standing stones around a central menhir. It sits 5 km. from Monsaraz, near Telheiro. The Menhir de Oteiro sits just outside the village of Oteiro. Our explorations of Alentejo will helped quite a bit by the detailed Alentejo map I purchased at the wonderful Livraria Bertrand in Lisbon. The Monsaraz tourist office may have a prehistoric route map.
Yes, I think it was pumpkin. We also had a cheese platter there with a side dish of pumpkin chutney. I had more pumpkin on this last trip than ever before.
xyz99,
I would say 2 + 2. They're both really interesting and they both have castles. I've never been to Monsanto. It's on my (too long) list but it's never been on my route.
Would it be too repetitive to visit Monsaraz, Obidos, Marvão and Castelo de Vide? For me, it wouldn't....but I never get tired of exploring Portuguese and Spanish picturesque villages especially the ones off the beaten path.
Here's Monsaraz-
16th c Igreja da Misericórdia
Monsaraz's Main Street, Largo Principal, leading up to the castle
A view of the town from its castle
A small café, O Gaspacho, serving supposedly the best gazpacho in the region.
I thought that Marvão was better "manicured", more well kept than Monsaraz (and the scenery more dramatic), but both are very typically Moorish. The plains around Monsaraz, though, are littered with megaliths--menhirs, cromlechs, dolmens....The Xerez cromlech has 50 standing stones around a central menhir. It sits 5 km. from Monsaraz, near Telheiro. The Menhir de Oteiro sits just outside the village of Oteiro. Our explorations of Alentejo will helped quite a bit by the detailed Alentejo map I purchased at the wonderful Livraria Bertrand in Lisbon. The Monsaraz tourist office may have a prehistoric route map.
Apr 7th, 2022, 08:13 AM
#54
Original Poster
Beautiful! You’ve now convinced me that Monsaraz is worth visiting!
I’m not sure how our Evora visit will unfold yet, but which would you choose between Monsaraz or Elvas? Even though we are going to Marvao, Monsaraz looks lovely and might be easier to visit in a day trip.
I’m not sure how our Evora visit will unfold yet, but which would you choose between Monsaraz or Elvas? Even though we are going to Marvao, Monsaraz looks lovely and might be easier to visit in a day trip.
Apr 7th, 2022, 08:20 AM
#55
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progol,
Elvas is a small city. Monsaraz will be easier, as it's quite small and you can combine it with a visit to the prehistoric sites. King Gerald Sem Pavor ("the Fearless") took Monsaraz from the Moors in 1167 then handed it over to the Knights Templar, who established a garrison there against the Spaniards.
We enjoyed our meal there at the "Taverna Os Templários".
The restaurant's instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/tavernaostemplarios/?hl=en.
Elvas is a small city. Monsaraz will be easier, as it's quite small and you can combine it with a visit to the prehistoric sites. King Gerald Sem Pavor ("the Fearless") took Monsaraz from the Moors in 1167 then handed it over to the Knights Templar, who established a garrison there against the Spaniards.
We enjoyed our meal there at the "Taverna Os Templários".
The restaurant's instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/tavernaostemplarios/?hl=en.
Apr 7th, 2022, 08:44 AM
#56
Original Poster
Thanks, as always, Maribel! The restaurant looks lovely!
And, good news, I was able to confirm an extra day at Thomar Boutique hotel (staying 3 nights), so I was able to keep all my preferred reservations when I switched a few days around! Our trip is coming up soon!!!!
And, good news, I was able to confirm an extra day at Thomar Boutique hotel (staying 3 nights), so I was able to keep all my preferred reservations when I switched a few days around! Our trip is coming up soon!!!!
Apr 7th, 2022, 09:24 AM
#57
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Wow, so glad you don't have to switch Tomar hotels!
Some photos
Castelo do Almoural on the Tagus, another Templars stronghold
entrance to the Convento de Cristo
Inside
Tomar's central square
Its church
Convento de Cristo again
Some photos
Castelo do Almoural on the Tagus, another Templars stronghold
entrance to the Convento de Cristo
Inside
Tomar's central square
Its church
Convento de Cristo again
Apr 7th, 2022, 09:58 AM
#58
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Apr 7th, 2022, 10:14 AM
#59
Original Poster
Maribel, wow! That Convento de Cristo! And now, I hope, we’ll have time to stop at the Castelo do Almoural. Fantastic siting!
Thanks, xyz, I’m happy and relieved (though I think my backup place would’ve been fine).
I can’t believe it’s nearly time!
Thanks, xyz, I’m happy and relieved (though I think my backup place would’ve been fine).
I can’t believe it’s nearly time!
