Top 10 Best of the Rest
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1. Viana do Alentejo
A little backwater famed for its natural springs, but also home to a fine 14th-century castle and a fortified church. Peacocks roam round the pilgrim church of Nossa Senhora de Aires, 20 minutes’ walk east of the town centre.
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2. Serra de São Mamede
This beautiful and diverse nature reserve is home to a stunning variety of wildlife: Bonelli’s eagle, Egyptian vulture, genet and the Iberian midwife toad are some of the residents.
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3. Cromlech of Almendres (Guadalupe)
The Cromlech of Almendres stone circles are considered the most important megalith group in the Iberian peninsula. Nearby is the Neolithic Dolmen of Zambujeiro.
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4. Vila Nova de Milfontes
An attractive seaside resort hugging the River Mira near a vast swathe of golden sand. Popular in summer, with superb surf.
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5. Portalegre
The superb Museu do Guy Fino (named in honour of the founder of Portalegre’s last remaining tapestry factory) showcases some of the finest examples of tapestry in Europe.
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6. Évoramonte
Dramatic views reward those who make it to Évoramonte’s castle walls which are embellished with curious stone “ropes”. Dom Miguel ceded the throne in Évoramonte on 26 May 1834.
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7. Arraiolos/Pavia
The foundations of the castle at Arraiolos date back to Celtic times, while in Pavia, 18 km (11 miles) to the north, a tiny chapel has been built into a dolmen – architecturally unique in Portugal.
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8. Crato
Neat rows of whitewashed houses with yellow trim characterize this town, once the headquarters of the 14th-century Order of Hospitallers. Exhibits in the Museu Municipal explain more about Crato’s illustrious past.
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9. Redondo
Dozens of hole-in-the-wallolarias (pottery workshops) line the narrow streets of Redondo, which makes it a worthy stop-off to pick up a slew of ceramic souvenirs.
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10. Zambujeira do Mar
An annual rock festival has put this coastal smudge of a village resort on the map, but its secluded beach and other-world charm has always attracted the more independent of travellers.
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