8 Best Shopping in Évora and the Alentejo, Portugal

One of the town's best rug selections can be found at Casa Tiraz, facing Arraiolos's main town square.

For authentic Estremoz crafts, head to this tiny workshop where you can watch local women molding clay and painting their ceramic creations in the back room.

This shop focuses solely on handmade cork products, and sells everything from frames to handbags to umbrellas—even a cork bikini. And if you really love cork, you can stay in the Mont'Sobro House, owned by the same family, and decorated in cork products.

At the top of the shopping street of Rua 5 de Outubro, O Cesto Artesanato specializes in beautiful ceramics and items made with locally produced cork.

This store sells Alentejo regional handicrafts, from cork to leather. It's also a good place to pick up some Alentejo wines.

Sempre Noiva--which roughly translates as "Always a Bride"—is not a wedding shop, but a store dedicated to wool carpets. The name comes from a local legend about a maiden living in the hilltop castle whose fiance didn't return from war until she was very old. To hide the signs of age, she covered herself with a rug. This story inspired the original owner, and the shop is now run by her two daughters.