Buy House in Portalegre

Visiting Portalegre is not so much about visiting one interesting town, but about visiting a whole cluster of northern Alentejan towns, each with their own tale to tell, and with Portalegre at their center. The region contains a wealth of historical monuments and anecdotes, awe-inspiring views from the fortified hilltop towns, and a good smattering of prehistoric treasures to boot. For the energetic or hot, a host of dams (barragem) offer the perfect opportunity for water sports and a cooling swim in the hot summer months of the Portuguese interior.

Firstly, Portalegre is found near the Spanish border on the green slopes of the São Mamede mountains, which now constitute a national park complete with marked paths for walkers and a wealth of interesting inhabitants from wild boar and red deer to vultures and eagles. At over 3000 feet, the peak of São Mamede is a short drive away along a road full of bends and spectacular views. The town’s serious fortifications have seen much action, withholding a five-month siege by Dom Dinis in the 13th century and many others in the meantime. During the Peninsular War of the early 1800s, British troops on the Portuguese side were based here.

Beyond military edifices, Portalegre has an array of religious ones dating from the 13th century. The São Francisco monastery, along with that of Santa Clara and São Bernardo all have their charm and the grand Renaissance and Baroque houses still tell tales of past splendor and importance.