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-   -   How best to plan Evora and the Alentejo (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/how-best-to-plan-evora-and-the-alentejo-1706469/)

Maribel Apr 7th, 2022 04:17 PM

Castelo de Vide is fairly compact. You can visit the central square where there's parking, wander through the Judiaria and up to the castle in 2 hours. We even stopped in at the Museu Judaico in the site of the former synagogue for a quick visit. The Sephardic diaspora is something I find very interesting and the story of the Marranos and how they hid their identity during the Inquisition (I'm not Jewish).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synago...astelo_de_Vide.
https://www.portugaltravel.org/synag...astelo-de-vide.

In Marvão you'll probably want to focus on the castle and its very large grounds.

progol Apr 7th, 2022 05:02 PM

Great info, Maribel, and yes, a fascinating history.

Maribel Apr 7th, 2022 05:05 PM

This is why Belmonte is on my "must do" list on our next trip!

xyz99 Apr 7th, 2022 05:07 PM

Thank you, Maribel. This is really helpful...we'll need to be very selective. Interesting links, I'll have to read about Marranos and the Sephardic diaspora. I found this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrano

Maribel Apr 7th, 2022 05:09 PM

And our Fodorite Gardyloo introduced me to the book "The Mezuzah in the Madonna's foot"
.

progol Apr 7th, 2022 05:43 PM

Thanks for the links to the Castelo de Vide synagogue.Really fascinating! We were in the synagogues in Cordoba and in Toledo, and now we’ll get to visit the one here and in Tomar. The history of the Marranos is incredible - painful but very intriguing! I can imagine how special it is to be part of the Jewish community in Belmonte.

Maribel Apr 7th, 2022 06:23 PM

I loved our visit to the tiny synagogue-museum in Castelo de Vide. The Sephardic heritage in Portugal and Spain really fascinates me.

https://jewishtoursportugal.com/castelo-de-vide/
https://www.visitportugal.com/en/des...alentejo/73790
https://www.redejudiariasportugal.co...astelo-de-vide

xyz99 Apr 8th, 2022 04:01 AM


Originally Posted by Maribel (Post 17351542)
And our Fodorite Gardyloo introduced me to the book "The Mezuzah in the Madonna's foot"
https://www.amazon.com/Mezuzah-Madon.../dp/0060603402.

Thank you! This is one of the reasons I love traveling, not only for what I see, but what I learn about people, places, history, geography, culture....it's fascinating and nourishes the soul.

mike1728 Apr 8th, 2022 05:54 AM

Maribel-great photos. Loved Monsaraz. Visited there as a day trip from Evora in May 2018. Had lunch at the restaurant in your photo "O Gaspacho" Delicious bruschetta and vegetable soup, with some local vino. Super cute place-very friendly owner!

Maribel Apr 8th, 2022 08:54 AM

A bit more about Monsaraz from my favorite Portuguese blogger-
https://juliedawnfox.com/monsaraz/

Maribel Apr 9th, 2022 02:34 PM

For progol and xyz99,
Your two "homes" in Evora-enjoy them both! They're lovely.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d474346ba.jpeg
The Pousada Convento dos Loios chapel

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0ce70ebbf.jpeg
Sitting room of the Pousada

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e2d067bd1.jpeg
Pousada's outdoor area

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6ead3270f.jpeg
The Pousada's "best" as in most historic room

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d74129665.jpeg
The Albergaria do Calvario

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ba990e425.jpeg
Albergaria do Calvario

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2e9c783ca.jpeg
And the famed porco preto alentejano, like Spain's pata negra, grazing on acorns and producing some very fine ham!

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...137215419.jpeg
The Pousada chapel's beautiful tiles--open to all to visit

xyz99 Apr 9th, 2022 02:46 PM

It looks gorgeous, Maribel, thanks for the photos. Although we will not have the Pousada's "best", I'm sure we'll love it there. I can't believe AdC is fully booked for the end of Sept...Portugal is really a popular place!

Maribel Apr 9th, 2022 02:48 PM

It's that the AdC houses lots of upscale cycling groups (like Backroads) and they go through the Alentejo in September & October.

xyz99 Apr 9th, 2022 03:30 PM


Originally Posted by Maribel (Post 17352203)
It's that the AdC houses lots of upscale cycling groups (like Backroads) and they go through the Alentejo in September & October.

Ahaaaa, that explains it! Thanks. They had other days available, but not our dates, and I did not feel like re-arranging our dates for them. Plus, the Pousada is perfectly fine, too.

Maribel Apr 9th, 2022 03:30 PM

I just found these photos of Castelo de Vide--such a pretty, manicured town and the Eagle's Nest of Marvão with its superb panoramas, just to give you an idea of what you'll see in your time there.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...33dfb41a5.jpeg
Castelo de Vide from below

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2f01373e0.jpeg
Its pretty square (it's a spa town)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...56285b43f.jpeg
its main square with sculptures where you can park

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...fe8de514e.jpeg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e7b589976.jpeg
A pretty manor home turned small inn, the Casa Amarela overlooking the main square

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...adb138ca0.jpeg
The Serra São Mamede

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...df0a36c64.jpeg
The town seen from the castle

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...78af2ee2c.jpeg
The Fonte da Vide, a Renaissance marble fountain dispensing the town's famous mineral water

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7705bff5b.jpeg
The Rua. da Fonte of the Judiaria

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...cc50e4081.jpeg
The 13th century synagogue and museum, with 2 rooms, one for women and one for men with a collection of history of the local Jewish communities

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5a7a9617f.jpeg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...052bcf571.jpeg
A typical Marvão whitewashed street leading to the castle

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...be000f5c2.jpeg
progol's Marvão "home", the Dom Dinis

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...68be9709d.jpeg
Marvão castle

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ee81a7c85.jpeg
Its gardens

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b03579f5c.jpeg
View from the castle ramparts to the church

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...78acd6ea6.jpeg
The views from the Pousada's dining room

xyz99 Apr 9th, 2022 04:44 PM

And I only have 2 hrs in each??? oh boy...
Do I go up to the castle in both towns? I'm a sucker for views from above, but I love wandering on those little cobblestoned streets too...

Maribel Apr 9th, 2022 04:50 PM

I know....these 2 Serra de São Mamede towns are adorable.

Yes, go up to the castle in both towns---for the views!

I haven't yet been to Monsanto, but boy, these two are really wonderful!

progol Apr 9th, 2022 05:19 PM

The views everywhere! I want more time - 4 weeks isn’t enough! The views in Marvao are fantastic! And it looks like we’ll need to stop in the castle for a meal although I believe our “home” has a view, too. And those views from Castelo de Vide! more wow!

And Castelo de Vide is a must for the Jewish history as well. It feels very present, in fact.

And Evora! The pousada’s chapel! Love those tiles…


xyz99 Apr 9th, 2022 05:19 PM

I'll tell you about Monsanto when we come back. I really, REALLY hope we won't need to cancel this again.

progol Apr 9th, 2022 05:22 PM


Originally Posted by xyz99 (Post 17352251)
I'll tell you about Monsanto when we come back. I really, REALLY hope we won't need to cancel this again.

Nope, you won’t. This one’s the charm!


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