Lisbon, Sintra, and Evora

Sintra, Lisbon, and Evora

                 Praça do Coměrcio - Lisbon

Thanks again for tagging along with us as we continue through 🇵🇹 Portugal!  As a write this it is 9:30 pm and our 2nd night in Evora. It has cooled off from the low 90’s to 78 F.  Early morning starts and evening walks are the best method for the high temps, and laying low, sometimes with a large bottle of the local “cerveja”.


We had a lovely three nights in Sintra which is west of and a 35 minute train ride to Lisbon.  Our Airbnb was an amazing stay at a mansion on top of one of Sintra’s many hills, and Alexander our host graciously gave us run of much of the place including the swimming pool an living areas.




We walked and drove over a large portion of the area including out to the coast.  Because ofthe natural beauty of the area and along with the cooler temperatures and alluring coastline Sintra became a place where Lisbon’s royalty would go to escape the heat of the city.  Because of this there is an abundance of fabulous architecture both Portuguese and Moorish.




    One day we took the train into Lisbon and did a long walking tour of the Alfama (old moorish area) and around the Castelo São Jorge and then up in the Barrio Alto.  It was great to revisit and enjoy the culture of one of Europe’s great cities.

The magnificent Rossio train station-Lisbon 

Lunch in the Barrio Alto

Should have tried it 🤑

View of Lisbon and Castelo São Jorge

    So now we are in Evora which is probably the most well known city if the Alentejo region of Portugal.  The Alentejo makes up about a third of the area of Portugal and is the largest wine growing region.  It’s also the breadbasket of Portugal and famous for its gastronomy.  What’s not to like?

                   Typical street in Evora

                   Evora and the Cathedral

                     Ermitage do São Blas

Part of the Agua de Praça aqueduct at Evora
       - which stretched 18 kilometers


Enjoying some of the local spirits, Ginja!

            Lunch in the town of Elvas.....
           Francesina and Feijoada

Similar to the northern border regions there are a lot of fortified towns on hilltops, many with castles.
Evora is a beautiful walled city to wander around in with countless beautiful historic churches and other landmark buildings including the unusual and some say macabre “Capela dos Ossis”or Chapel of Bones.



In a week we will be staying in another area of the Alentejo and I will talk more about the many amazing towns of the area.  A drive we took today focused on some of the megalithic structures that are scattered around the Alentejo.  Infact just outside of Evora is the most important grouping made up of about 100 cromeleque over 7000 years old and the largest group in the Iberian Peninsula.




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