Through Évora, the museum city.

For those who appreciate and seek for moments of tranquility and serenity the Alentejo is undoubtedly the right choice, and Évora is one of our favorite regions!

Here we have a very special little corner that we like very much! A place that is framed among cork oaks, in a wonderful landscape. We've been coming here since it was the Ecorkhotel, at the moment it is known by Tivoli Évora Ecoresort.

It is located in a very privileged area near Évora, yet far enough away so that you can enjoy the perfect combination between nature and the comfort you are looking for.

Let's say 5 or 6 days are very well spent around these parts, relaxing or just walking and admiring. It can even be an ideal complement to a stay in Crato or Monsaraz.

A big plus, in our view, of this hotel is its location, which is, simply put, excellent. You can enjoy the wonderful city of Évora, take a stroll to Arraiolos or even visit Monsaraz if you do not have the opportunity to stay there.

Cork is used as the exterior lining of the main building! Wonderful natural element that contributes to better acoustic and thermal insulation, besides of course in terms of visuals it looks beautiful !!!

The hotel is divided into 2 distinct areas, if you can say so. One of these areas is where the main services are concentrated, such as the reception, the bar, the restaurant (which, by the way, has an inspiring view), the spa and the pool (marvelous and infinite), the other area is where the bungalows or villas are located.

The Villas are all separate which accounts for a better and higher privacy, not to mention that it is great not to wake up to the tv or other neighbor "noises"... if you understand what I'm saying ahahah.

Each of the suites, which have very generous areas, has a living room, the bedroom and a small terrace, wonderful to catch some sunshine or relax while reading a book... The time here passes slowly and with sweetness... Oh, how we miss our little terrace... We want to go back!!!!!!! Please, please.

Just take look at this wonderful terrace!

The hotel has several bicycles available, it's like an open invitation for you to embarque on an adventure and explore the surroundings natural beauty.

It is not at all difficult to get from the hotel to Évora.... 10 to 11 minutes by car, if so, are enough and undoubtedly worth the visit.

Évora has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. This distinction, among several reasons, is due to the fact that it is considered one of the best examples of a city of the Portuguese golden age, after the great earthquake of 1755 that destroyed our capital, Lisbon.

For those who want to visit the city here are our tips:

Évora is a walled city, which was founded (or refounded) by the Romans, who called it Ebora Liberalitas Iulia. Therefore, please, please, please do not miss the famous Roman Temple of Évora, better known as the Temple of Diana. The beginning of its construction dates back to the 1st century AD and was built in honor of Emperor Augustus.

Diana's garden

For the most "courageous" we recommend a visit to the Chapel of Bones, in the church of San Francisco. Originally built by 3 Franciscan monks who wanted to convey the message of how ephemeral our passage through this earth is... The main entrance to the Chapel of Bones greets visitors with a foretelling inscription: “We, the bones that are here await yours”.

If you have the opportunity, we also recommend a visit to the Sé Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, better known as Sé Cathedral of Évora, by the away the largest medieval cathedral in the country!

Also mandatory visit is, of course, the Giraldo Square where you can see the 16th century fountain built by the architect Afonso Álvares during the reign of D. Sebastião. As a matter of curiosity, it was here that the first fair in Évora was held.

All streets lead to Giraldo Square, a lively place where you can sit at the open air cafes and restaurants and relax while having a drink with friends. When we were there it was very crowded, a small stage had been set up, where they held a fashion show with the clothes of local designers and shops!

Not far from the square, we found the Art Café. Always lively and relaxed ambiance. Great place to absorb the "eborense" atmosphere. We were very lucky the night we went there, it was a special night with the presence of a typical alentejano group with traditional songs from Alentejo! It was awesome !!!

Go without destination... Take advantage of getting "lost", this is often the best way to discover something different, something that call us to attention.... a detail... a store... a gift, something special!

Where to eat:

There is an immense offer in the city, from the esplanades to the restaurants, however we have a restaurant that we particularly like.... the Adega do Alentejano... just thinking of it makes us want to drool ahahah. Yes, we really enjoyed it. The service, we would not say it's fantastic, but the food, the food is well worth it, from the black pork tenderloin to the Alentejo migas! It really has everything from the gastronomic delights of Alentejo. yumm

Since we're close, why not go to Arraiolos? We are always hearing about the famous Arraiolos tapestry rugs, why not go there?! It was precisely what we did, wheels on the road and there we went through the Alentejo landscapes. Arraiolos is half an hour away from the hotel, about 28km through a breathtaking scenery.

When we arrived in Arraiolos, we went straight to the Castle, one of the few with circular architecture. From the top the view is panoramic, 360º on the beautiful Alentejo plain. Loved it !! ahaha

From here we went to the little village. We walked along the main square and crossed the main streets. Beautiful Alentejo architecture.

Not to be missed is the Interpretive Center of the Arraiolos tapestry rugs, whose task is to promote the study and dissemination of the traditional Arraiolos tapestry rugs, so appreciated, not only in our Country, but also throughout the world! The entry price for adults is only 1 euro, a symbolic value that is well worth spending!

We ended our tour the best possible way ..... eating ahahah. We went to the O Alpendre restaurant. It is an alentejano restaurant with a rustic decoration, which was recommended to us by a friend born and raised in Arraiolos.

We opted the traditional cod migas that were great!!! The service let's say it was not the best.... maybe the girl who attended us was not having the best of days, however, this didn't prevent us from still recommending this restaurant. It was great!

It's nice to be able to remember all these places and moments. They make us smile and feel like coming back and explore a little bit more this enchanting Portuguese region.

See you next time... soon!

Main distances to Évora:

* Porto 410 km

* Lisboa 133.6 km

* Faro 226.1 km

* Tivoli Évora Ecoresort 8.8 km