Heading To Marvao For Sunset In Alentejo

Heading To Marvao For Sunset In Alentejo Got Us Many Other Gems Too

We set out from our winery stay to the hill town of Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.  Our road trip day had many great stops along the way.

We started in the small town of Portelegre for lunch.  And were delighted when we visited the Convento de São Bernardo for the beautiful Azulejo Portuguese blue tile art.  

Our road trip continued as we visited interesting small towns, historical monuments and got awe-inspiring views from fortified hilltop towns.  We reached the castle town of Marvao in time to explore.  And saw the magical transformation as the sunset turned to night.

Lunch In Portelgre

We had an interesting road trip planned for the day trip from our stay at the winery in Alentejo.  The first place we stopped was Portalegre.  This small town was near the Spanish border on the green slopes of the São Mamede mountains.

For our stop in Portalegre, we researched a place for lunch.  When we walked into Sal Alho Restaurant we were delighted with the local atmosphere.  We found a small table in the crowded room and ordered the local meat specials.  

Portalegre was a classic hill town.  After we ate we wandered and found some of the interesting statues around the town and Calvary Chapel.  

We have one specific sight in Portalegre before we headed to Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.

Exploring The Convento de São Bernardo

We read about the Convento de São Bernardo with its beautiful Azulejo Portuguese blue tile art.  Having researched this in advance, we knew the striking monastery was inside the GNR (Portugal’s military police) headquarters that was used as a training school. The site was open to the public.  With a police escort, we easily got past the gated entrance and toured the building.

Before we even got inside, we wandered and admired the tile work on the entrance.  Each panel told a different story. The large Cloister was green and inviting.

Inside the monastery we found more walls decorated with the blue tile art.  Some were decorative and others told the story of St Bernardo’s life.  We found the tomb of Bishop Jorge de Melo and an altar.  There were cyrpts on the floor.

We were so glad we planned a stop in Portalegre and saw the Convento de São Bernard before we moved on to Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.

A Stop At Menir da Meada

Our second stop on this road trip was a little different.  This area in Portugal went back thousands of years and we learned that the surrounding countryside was dotted with a wealth of ancient megalithic sites.  The Parque Megalítico dos Coureleiros (Coureleiros Megalithic Park) included a number of Dolmens, menhirs and cromlechs which dated back to the late Bronze Age.

We followed the signs through the cork trees and found parking.  The Menir da Meada was a single standing stone (or “menhir”).  At at 7.15 metres (24 feet) tall this was the largest standing stone in the whole Iberian Peninsula.  Having visited one of the most famous standing stone areas at Stonehenge in England, this was a natural stop for us.  

Other nearby monuments include the Anta do Pombal, Anta da Melrica and the Anta do Curral do Galhordas.  But we were content to see the Menir da Meada on our road trip to Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.

Wandering In Castelo de Vide

The next stop on our day trip was the small town of Castelo de Vide.  The whitewashed houses with red roofs sat in the foothills of the Serra de São Mamede.  On the highest point we saw the castle.

We found a parking spot by the town square and just wandered through the narrow cobblestone streets in town.  We found interesting art pieces everywhere we looked.  

The Baroque style Igreja de Santa Maria da Devesa was near the town square.  The church had twin bell towers and an ornate Baroque doorway.  A quick peak inside showed us more decorative design.

Wandering steadily up we came to the medieval castle.  Today it is a National Monument.  Inside the castle was a small museum which was part Military Museum and part Archaeological Museum.  On this visit we had no time to visit the museum as we needed to move on to Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.

Finally Reaching Marvao For Sunset In Alentejo

We followed the signs and headed towards Marvao.  Marvao’s name was derived from a Moorish rebel, Ibn Marwan, who built the first castle on this site.  We were very close to the border with Spain, on top of Sapoio Sierra.  

From the distance we got our first glimpse of  the castle and the old town on the hill.  At about 2,800ft (860m) high) it was highest town in Portugal.  Marvao served as the only Portuguese fortification with a strategic purpose until the 19th century.

As we headed up, we came to the Convento de Nossa Senhora da Estrela.  This national monument was named for the patron saint of Marvao who was believed to be a miracle maker and protector.  From this vantage point we got a view out over the rolling landscapes of the Alentejo region and up to the castle on the hill.

We were excited to head into Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.

Wandering In Marvao

We approached the walls of the old city of Marvao and found the city gate.  Inside the gate, only a few of the streets were wide enough to allow a car to pass.  We successfully navigated that challenge driving inside the walls of Obidos on a previous visit to Portugal.  But for this visit to Marvao, we parked outside the gate.

We spent a little time wandering along the cobblestone streets.  Charming whitewashed houses were adorned with terracotta roofs and wrought-iron balconies.

For dinner, we booked a reservation at the Veranda do Alentejo. There was a large outdoor patio at street level. An upper level had some oblique views but not quite the panoramic vistas we had envisioned.  We enjoyed a slow dinner and finished well before sunset.

From this end of the old town, we walked upwards towards the castle in Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.

Exploring The Castle Grounds

We headed towards the castle and came first to the former Church of Santa Maria.  This was now the Marvao Museum.  It had a diverse collection of artifacts within the Gothic-style church but we did not stop to visit.

From this point we got our first close view of the castle over the large gardens.  It was a stunning medieval sight.  Over the years, the castle was reconstructed and expanded.  The walls and towers blended seamlessly with the granite of the mountainside.

We walked around the castle to the main entrance and found the interesting carving of the knight on horseback we found.  Heading to the walls we found the stairs that took us up to the walkways.  We walked on the castle walls much as we did in the walled town of Obidos in Portugal.  Cannons still aimed out the walls.

From on top of the walls, we got panoramic views that showed the old town and looking out the vistas stretched as far as Spain.  As the sun started to sink, we headed for the perfect spot in Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.

Sunset And Night Sky Views Of Marvao

We walked to the walls by the Marvao Museum.  We saw the sunset colours paint the sky and the church.  

As the sun sunk, the sky filled with colour and the castle was dark against the sky.  Once it got darker, we saw the castle lit up with colours.  We saw the town lights come on along the cobblestone streets. 

We slowly meandered our way back though the town and to our car.  But we had one more stop before we left Marvao for good.  We loved the views we got of Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.  But with full darkness, the sight of the lit castle from below was equally as fascinating.  

Our Road Trip To Marvao For Sunset In Alentejo Was A Real Treat

On our winery stay in Alentejo, each day we headed off to discover this historical region.  For this day, we planned a lot of road trip stops when we headed out to Marvao for sunset in Alentejo.  

We enjoyed our stop in Portalegre for lunch and marvelled at the beautiful Azulejo Portuguese blue tile art at the Convento de São Bernardo.  The Menir da Meada was just one of the fascinating ancient megalithic sites in the region. The small town of Castelo de Vide gave us another interesting hill town as we headed towards Marvao.  

Marvao itself was a charming town to visit with the huge castle on the hill.  It was lovely in the daylight.  But Marvao underwent a magical transformation as the sun set and then darkness fell.  We were so glad we found this area on our visit to the Alentejo region of Portugal.

Did you visit Marvao for sunset in Alentejo? And make some other interesting stops along the way?

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