What to do in Evora & Alentejo

Where cork oaks dot endless golden plains, Alentejo moves to its own unhurried rhythm. In Évora, Roman columns pierce the sky while Gothic spires watch over squares where locals still gather for morning coffee. Duck into the rather macabre Chapel of Bones (not for the faint-hearted) before venturing into wine country, where vintners craft robust reds in ancient amphoras just as the Romans did. Speaking of history, this land holds secrets far older than Rome - megalithic monuments pepper the landscape like ancient postcards from our Neolithic ancestors. For something uniquely Portuguese, peek behind the scenes at a cork factory, where craftsmen transform bark into everything from wine stoppers to space shuttle insulation (and yes, even the odd Lady Gaga outfit). Time moves differently here, measured in coffee spoons, wine glasses, and centuries-old traditions that refuse to be rushed.