Day 1: Arrive in Alvito.
The little country town of Alvito, 6 miles (10 km) south of Viana de Alentejo, boasts a parish church with magnificent 17th century azulejo decoration and a fine fortified 15th century castle built by the Marquês de Alvito. The castle has recently been converted into a pousada.
Day 2: Alvito to Évora, 34 miles (55 km).
You start by riding through Alvito, famous for its several buildings with manueline architecture. Passing through several lovely hamlets, where life goes by at the slow Alentejo speed, and then ride to the village of Viana do Alentejo, famous for its pottery, the majestic castle with a mother church inside and the impressive Church of Senhora de Aires. The local "tasca" (typical café) is totally genuine and the atmosphere very serene. You then ride to Évora, classified by UNESCO as World heritage site. Accomodation is in a beautifully restored farmhouse close to Évora.
Day 3: Cycling tour around Évora to the megalithic monuments, 34 miles (55 km).
Today you will visit some of the most important megalithic monuments of the region. The landscape is lovely, with a lot of cork trees. You will learn about the cork extraction and about the people that inhabited the region 5 to 3 thousand years ago. You will visit the Dolmen of Zambugeiro, which is the largest in Europe, the Cromlech of Almendres, the Menir of Almendres and the roman ruins of Tourega.
Day 4: Évora to Reguengos de Monsaraz, 31 miles (50 km).
Riding between olive groves to reach the small and tradicional village of Nossa Srª de Machede where you can stop at a local café for a drink, visit the leather factory and an olive mill (when in season). You pass the Castle of Valongo and can visit a cheese factory in Aldeias de Montoito. Arriving in Reguengos de Monsaraz you will have plenty of time for some wine tasting in a gorgeous winery where they still have a room with the old clay pots to keep the wine.
Day 5: Reguengos de Monsaraz to Monsaraz, 22 miles (35 km).
You can visit the famous pottery village of S. Pedro do Corval, where you can see the men working the clay, transforming it into beautiful pots and plates, and the ladies painting them with flowers. Then it is uphill to conqueur the gorgeous village of Monsaraz, built in a castle on top of a hill. From Monsaraz you’ll take in the beautiful view over the lake of the Alqueva Dam, the largest artificial lake of Europe.
Day 6: Monsaraz to Vila Viçosa, 31 miles (50 km).
Today is the "Marble route" as you leave the schist land and discover the marble kingdom. You start by visiting the impressive sanctuary of Nossa Srª da Boa Nova and the flowery village centre of Terena. Afterwards you pass by the moon like landscape of the marble quarries of Bencatel area, from where the "white gold" was extrated to build gorgeous cities such as Estremoz and Borba.
Day 7: Vila Viçosa to Estramoz, 22 miles (35 km).
You can start your day by visiting the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa, and then cycle onto Borba. You pass by a typical "tasquinha", for a glass of home made wine, and then cycle to Gloria, where you can visit a local artisan. After a visit to the Church of Nossa Srª dos Martires you arrive early to Estremoz, where you can wander around tiny streets and discover the beautiful historical centre.
Day 8: Depart from Estramoz.
Trip ends after breakfast and you make your way back to Faro or Lisbon
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