Pousada De Evora, Evora

Advantages: History, World Heritage Site, gastronomy, authenticity
Disadvantages: Distance from main tourism spots

...The historic city of Évora is located in the south of Portugal, in the region of Alto Alentejo. Évora has its origins in the Roman times and vestiges from that period can still be seen all over this beautiful walled town. In the Middle Ages, after many conflicts between Visigoths and the Moors, the city became an important centre for learning and the arts under Avis dynasty (1385-1580). During Roman occupation Évora was called “Liberalitas Julia” and the most remarkable remaining of this era is the stunning “Temple of Diana”. In 1986, UNESCO has recognized Évora’s international heritage value by declaring it a World Heritage City. This honoured title is in itself a promise to the visitor that the historic city of Évora has a lot to offer. The region is predominantly agricultural and reminds me of Lincolnshire in the UK. Vast planes... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to get to, easy to live with
Disadvantages: Organised tours - go now before they ruin it !!

...Cross the river from Lisbon or drive North from Faro and enter the wonderful Alentejo. This area between Lisbon and the Algarve is huge and varied and well worth an extended visit. The name comes from the portuguese 'alem Tejo' meaning across the Tagus, which is the huge river on which Lisbon stands. It's an unimaginitive name for a laid-back, comfortable place which produces some of the best wine, cheese and ham that you would ever want to try. The people are relaxed and friendly, even compared to other Portuguese, and are the butt of many jokes (which are very similar to 'Irish' or 'Polish' jokes) Estremoz is great for pottery and Tasca de Elias, a 'bistro' rightly famous for food and wine (..and crowds, and it is definitely NOT a restaurant for the refined!) Evora is a world heritage site and you'll find details on the web - but it... Read review

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Advantages: Good price, authentic and charming. Great location.
Disadvantages: Basic accommodation, communal bathrooms dodgy.

...A friend and I hit upon this hotel after asking for advice on cheap places to stay at the tourist information centre in Evora. We stayed here for 2 nights for very little money - about the same as a hostel. Bear in mind were visiting a little out of season (October) and it was raining, so I don't know what the hotel would be like in high season. Finding the place on foot was a doddle - in a car was another matter as we got horribly lost in the one-way system (we should've just ignored it, the town is tiny and it was very quiet!) and ended up stuck down a very very narrow street. Beware. Anyway, I digress. The hotel is in an excellent location within the walled city and close to the centre. It provided a fantastic base from which to really experience the old charm of this incredible World Heritage site city. The hotel even has parking... Read review

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