Wide Alentejo, blue coast: Dunes to the horizon, cliffs and historical places, the vast river Alentejo with stork nests and vineyards.
The middle south of Portugal is full of contrasts and you’ll need to take your time to find its small and big attractions. South of Lisbon, the scenery changes – the numerous beaches of the Costa da Caparica are an ideal place to relax. If you go south along the coastline, the Cabo Espichel rises above the Serra da Arrábida. It’s a part of a diversified area which stretches from the river mouth of the Tejo to Cabo de Sines and is marketed as Costa Azul nowadays. The dolphin is the symbol of this ‘blue coast’ – the protected delta of the Rio Daso at Setúbal is part of its habitat. Pink flamingos can be seen around the area of the estuary as well; in some years, up to 1500 birds are recorded. The sparsely populated Alentejo, Portugal’s historical poster region of owners of large estates runs inland. Seemingly endless landscapes with white villages, wheat fields, sheep- and cow fields, oil- and cork tree groves open up. Depending on the season, the soil looks green or burnt. There are some interesting destinations in the middle of this alleged monotony like the cathedral town of Évora – its historical center is a UNESCO world heritage site.
