How to Enjoy a Visit to Evora, Portugal

While Evora is among the second tier of tourist destinations in Portugal, it is at the top of the second tier and a good candidate for joining such places as Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve. Evora is a historic town that brings together ancient ruins with intact buildings of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, it is also located in the heart of Portugal's Alto Alentejo, a region with distinctive cuisine and the main producer of Portugal's varieties of table wine.

Instructions

1. Get to Evora. Evora is a bit off the beaten tourist path, but it is still relatively simple to get there. From Lisbon (the main tourist entry point for those not heading straight to the Algarve and the beach), there are buses and trains that run to Evora. If you are considering a larger tour of back-country Portugal or the Alentejo, your should consider renting a car and making the trip that way.

2. Take in the pleasures of the center of old Evora. The town square is the Praça do Giraldo, and should be the start of your foot tour. Go to Evora Cathedral and take in the famous ossuary there. Visit the Roman ruins of the Temple of Diana. Enjoy a nice lunch or a coffee in a cafe near one of the big sights.

3. Investigate the old walls and Roman aqueduct on the outer part of old Evora.

4. Make a day trip to the Herdad do Esperao, which is located only an hour from Evora and is one of Portugal's main estate wineries. Near Esperao is Monsaraz, a medieval hilltop fortress town which is a must-see if you are already in the area.

5. Sample the local cuisine. Alentejo is not just the source of most of Portugal's table wine, but also its best cheeses and beef. Be sure to try the steaks, and enjoy whatever local artisan cheeses come your way.

Tips & Warnings

• While many locations in the Alentejo are relatively cheap, Evora is a college town and provincial center and is therefore not one of them. Do not expect to find many bargains there.