Why move to Evora District
Hidden deep into megalithic countryside among the gnarled ancient cork oaks are some light, bright cities and towns with plenty of character and history to discover.
Covering the land east of Lisbon and up to the Spanish border, Evora contains 14 undisputed municipalities and one that continues to be fought over with the Spanish.
The city of Evora is an influential trading and religious centre packed full of historical monuments, for example, the Chapel of Bones (created from the bones of 5,000 monks), Manueline churches, lodgings squeezed between the arches of the Roman aqueduct, a medieval university and a Doric columned Roman temple.
Evora was used by the Romans as a military centre and was bestowed trading privileges by Julius Caesar. It then came under Moorish rule before a dynasty of Portuguese royalty began residing in its palaces. The grand cathedral is now a centre for the study of religious music and performance, and the Museum of Evora holds both important archaeological and art exhibits. The defensive wall surrounding the ancient city centre, and cobble of whitewashed buildings glazed with Moorish tiles within it, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.
Eastern towns like Alandroal, Vila Vicosa and Mourao have well-preserved castles and fortified structures. But despite this, there is a distinct Castilian influence in the region. Olivenza is a town set in disputed territory. It is technically governed by Spain, but until the mid-20th century it was mainly Portuguese speaking. Elsewhere in the district, the countryside dominates and most of the population live in bucolic villages where people still value local crafts like pottery, weaving and tapestry. The second largest town in the region, Reguengos de Monsaraz, is closely linked to the pottery of Sao Pedro do Corval, the first, largest and best centre for ceramics in the whole of Portugal.
You can take driving, walking or cycling tours in the megalithic landscapes or attend sophisticated viticultural events like tastings, pairings and vineyard tours. At the Evora aerodrome, skydiving schools offers tandem skydiving. If you head west, out of the region and towards Lisbon, you can mix up the international Lisbon lifestyle with the quietude of the Sado Estuary Natural Reserve, or the Arrabida Natural Park. Around the Lisbon coast, you’ll find both wild and cultivated beaches – the latter with the undeniable draw of the sociable nightlife.
The area of Montemor-o-Novo offers smart apartments and modern, luxury villas for people that want easy access to the city with the countryside on their doorstep. Around the outskirts of the larger towns, you’ll find grand country homes up for grabs and closer to the centre, great value-for-money townhouses. The more convenient your transport links into Lisbon are, the higher the price you’ll pay, but these satellite communities offer much bigger homes than any similarly priced Lisbon properties.