Vila Vicosa - Part 2

The castle and walled town were begun in the middle ages under King Dinis. The site on a natural and easily fortified hill dominates the town, overlooking the plaza.

Evora’s Door is one of 7 entrances.

The entire area around the castle was surrounded by the town walls on two sides and steep walled hills on the other two, providing the first line of defence. The castle keep is surrounded by a deep moat crossed originally by 2 drawbridges, one of which remains.

The high walled hillsides provided excellent sentry points and a rather nice view over the countryside.

While there is lots of history here and the buildings to reflect it, the town and the surrounding area are vibrant communities. With an economy based on marble, tourism and farming - predominantly olives and vineyards with some mixed farming, goats, sheep and cattle – this seems like a pleasant place to live.

Although Portugal is apparently the biggest producer of olives in Europe, the product is little known to the consumer outside the country. Much of the crop is exported to Spain for processing as Spanish olive oil.

A herder and his dogs lead some of his goats and sheep to water

while the rest feed and digest.

A relaxed pace of life, good and temperate weather with showers in the winter and dry warmth in the summer (find a tree for shade), the Alentejo has a lot to offer, provided you don’t mind driving on 2 lane roads,

and one-lane roads with 5 foot fall-offs, sometimes in the dark.

In the next post we’ll explore the ducal place birthplace and residence of Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses and even a future Queen of England – Catherine of Braganza who married Charles II of England.