Private Tour: Discover Medieval Alentejo with Evora, Monsaraz and Mourão
3.7
3 Ratings
Monsaraz
Embark on a private tour and discover the medieval wonders of Alentejo in Portugal. Explore Evora, Monsaraz, and Mourão while indulging in gastronomy and wine. Book now!
Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Monsaraz - Monsaraz, the graceful medieval village of Monsaraz, maintains the magic from ancient times like few others in the world. Made of lime and schist, this place whispers us, between the echo of our footsteps in its streets. A lot of magnificent stories could be told about its courageous kings, Knights Templar, brave people and dames of simple beauty.

Suspended in time, the historic village, one of the oldest in Portugal, is a mandatory destination to add to your list of places to visit in Alentejo. Especially after, in 2017, it won the category “Monument Villages” in the competition 7 Maravilhas de Portugal – Aldeias (7 wonders of Portugal – Villages).

  • Mourao - Mourão is a lovely village situated in the vast Alentejo’s region, on the left bank of the wide Guadiana river, nearby the border with Spain, in a place of great natural beauty, where peace of mind is the rule.

Mourão has always been marked by the Guadiana river, that has much contributed for the surrounding fertile soils where olive and almond trees grow, among other pleasant trees that characterize the lovely landscape.

Mourão is proud of its monuments and traditions, like its Castle and the baroque Mother Church of Nossa Senhora das Candeias (17th and 18th centuries), and the many green areas around in the region, like the Mata de São Bento.

  • Evora - Evora is a delightful Portuguese town that was originally founded by the Romans, later fortified by the Moors and flourished during the 15th century. This extensive history has provided Evora with a variety of interesting tourist attractions and historical monuments. This guide will detail the main tourist sights and attractions of Evora.
  • Capela dos Ossos - The Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) is a fascinating chapel with a very macabre atmosphere. Ranking as one of Evora’s most visited sites, this eerie tourist attraction is not for the faint hearted. This small, unassuming chapel is actually home to the final resting place of hundreds of bodies; all exhumed from the city’s graveyards in the 16th Century.
  • Monsaraz Castle and Walls - Monsaraz Castle is a unique touristic spot in Portugal. It is one of the most splendid places to look at the wonderful Alqueva Dam. This is the largest artificial lake in Europe and one of the greatest Portuguese constructions of the century. Slowly walk towards the village centre. At Largo D. Nuno Álvares Pereira (square), enter the stunning Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Lagoa (church). This religious monument was built with schist in the 16th century on the ruins of a gothic church, destroyed due to the black plague. Constructed in the Renaissance style, it has a beautiful pediment, decorated by a tile panel and an Order of Christ Cross.

In the interior, carefully study the tomb of Gomes Martins Silvestre, a Knight Templar, first Alcaide (Mayor) of Monsaraz. This tomb is made of marble from Estremoz. It has seventeen sculpted figures on the front representing a funeral procession.

What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Private tour experience
  • Exquisite wine tasting session
  • Knowledgeable driver/guide
  • Delicious lunch included
  • Comfortable van transport with air conditioning, including gas and tolls
  • All insurances and taxes covered
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a private full day tour from Lisbon, exploring the rich culture and history of the Alentejo region, specifically the towns of Evora, Monsaraz, and Mourão. This enriching 9-hour journey takes you across time, tracing back the paths of the Celts, Romans, Visigoths, and Moors — each of whom took residence in Monsaraz owing to its strategic hilltop position. In 1167, the town was reclaimed from the Moors, before falling into the hands of the Knights Templar. Subsequently, King Dinis fortified the town further by adding the castle and fortified walls in the 14th century. This trip encapsulates the intriguing prehistoric sites spread across Evora, Monsaraz, and Mourão. Experience the authentic gastronomy and exceptional wines of Monsaraz. Discover Evora, a charming Portuguese town suffused with history, initially established by Romans, later fortified by Moors, and thriving during the 15th century. In Mourão, take pride in its architectural treasures and cultural traditions, including the Castle and baroque Mother Church of Nossa Senhora das Candeias from the 17th and 18th centuries. This tour comes with private pickup (at 8:30am) and drop-off (at 6:00pm) facilities, in addition to wine tasting and lunch.

  • Coronavirus Safety Measures - The safety and well-being of everyone who uses our services are always our priority. We are actively monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and are taking steps to help keep our customers safe.
  • We’re certified by the Official Tourism entity ‘Turismo de Portugal’ with the hygiene certification stamp ‘Clean & Safe’.
  • For our safety, we operate only private tour and pick-up/drop-off all passengers. We clean and disinfect our vehicles every tour and we provide hand sanitizer and masks to our customers.
  • Our guides are experienced professionals, courteous and drive defensive and safety with only one objective to ensure your safety and satisfaction.
Location
Monsaraz
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.7
(3 Ratings)
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1 star
259ashleab
Aug 30, 2021
Exceptional views and experience! - This tour is a perfect day trip from Lisbon! The drive offers views of the countryside vineyards and cork harvest and the town of Evora provides Roman ruins, historic churches (the rooftop vistas are worth the stairs at the Cathedral of Evora), and the Chapel of Bones. Monsaraz is a MUST see and the wine tasting at Ervideira was the perfect pause. The castle provides unmatched views of the Alquava Lake and the quaint shops and restaurants made this tour my favorite day of our trip! Our guide, Hugo Oliveira, was knowledgeable, pleasant and well connected with the locals to ensure a *exceptional* experience! We took a second day-trip (Mafra/Ericeria) specifically with Hugo and enjoyed it equally as well!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebecca_s
Mar 4, 2020
Last minute tour - Hugo was awesome! While the tour as booked the day before, this tour company completely exceeded our expectations. Hugo was personable, knowledgeable, and friendly. I recommend this tour group to anyone looking for a personalized trip.
Review provided by Viator
Niki_o
Oct 19, 2023
No bueno - I booked two tours with this Vaitor and both cancelled. One did contact me, gave me a heads up with an explination and did try to offer other solutions. This one I’m writing on cancelled last minute, did not contact me and did not give a reason. Viator customer service, although I did get a refund for both, weren’t helpful in rebooking me. I was left with last minute empty days and no way to fill them with tours as it was last minute and we were here for a very limited number of days.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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