AT HOME IN ALENTEJO
The northwestern edge of Alentejo is is just a short drive from downtown Lisbon, but once you’ve crossed the Vasco da Gama Bridge over the Tagus River, it might as well be a world away. Stretching from southern Portugal’s Atlantic coast to the borders of Spain, this is a deeply rural region of red earth and rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves, and the occasional limewashed village or ancient hilltop castelo. “Calma, calma” is the credo here — don’t stress, don’t worry, don’t rush if you don’t have to.
While agriculture still dominates life in Alentejo, which produces almost half of Portugal’s wine as well as a sizable share of the global cork harvest, tourism has finally caught on as well, thanks to a new or (farming estates) — or in some cases built faithful facsimiles — as country retreats complete with spas, sparkling pools, farm-to-table food, and an impressive roster of activities. Brimming with Alentejan authenticity, these sprawling properties also promise what are perhaps the greatest luxuries of all: silence, space, and a pervading sense of .
