The Alentejo in Portugal, is the largest region in the country covering over one third of its mainland territories. However, the Alentejo only accounts for approximately seven percent of its population. The land mass stretches south of the river Tagus, touching Spain, the Atlantic coast, and the tip of the Algarve. The Alentejo, Portugal has rolling hills, open countryside, fertile soil, and some of the finest beaches in the world. In fact, twenty-two have won the prestigious Blue Flag award and three marinas too.
Throughout the spring and summer months the Alentejo countryside becomes a magnificent canvass of colour. Every third year or so the fields change their background colour from yellow to purple and vice versa. Intermittent flowers of all shapes, sizes and colours also appear randomly in between.
The population is in decline due to the migration of its younger population to the major cities like Lisbon and Porto. Senior citizens account for around twenty five percent of the current population. Many Europeans are still relocating to this wonderful laid-back area in Portugal where they enjoy a tranquil way of life, leisurely activities, and much sought after peace of mind. A couple of the most sought-after areas of the Alentejo in 2022, are Comporta and Melides.
Production throughout the region includes wine, marble, olives, cork, wood, and agriculture (Much of which is organic). Livestock (Cows, sheep, pigs, goat), smoked ham, sausage, and cheese. Fruit (Much of which unfortunately is left on the trees).
Alentejo is the largest producer of cork in the world, which is harvested every nine years. Known as Sobreiro in Portuguese, this industry has been ongoing for some three hundred years. Due to the current impossibility of having this industry mechanized the stripping of the bark is still done by hand.
The historic city of Evora with its Roman influence and ruins is considered to be the capital of Alentejo. The surrounding areas including Estremoz, Borba, Vila Viçosa, and Gloria have the largest excavation of marble. In many instances this marble is polished by the Italians and then marketed and sold as their own.
The food and wines are some of the finest throughout the whole of Portugal and in fact the world. For those with a hearty appetite and thirst to quench the Alentejo is a wonderful place to satisfy your desires. The area has seen a massive decline in food production over recent years, mainly due to the incentives provided by the European Union, and unfortunately for the most part was relocated to Spain.
The only ‘agricultural’ increase in this part of Portugal has been that of the vineyard. Due to this increased production, Portuguese wines are now finding new markets abroad. That being said, the wine is so good that the Portuguese keep and drink the majority for themselves. This fact is proven in the amount of alcohol that they consume per capita.
Due to the enormous land mass a number of dams and hydro-electric property stations have been constructed. The largest and most recent being the Alqueva Dam, with Santa Clara in Odemira the second largest. One of the hottest places in Europe with temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius in the summer yet falling as low as freezing in the winter.
The wetter months are those between late autumn (December) and early spring (March). Although many of the senior citizens are illiterate, many of the over forty-fives speak French as well as Portuguese. The younger generations are generally fluent in English and Portuguese with many able to communicate in Spanish.
Central, Litoral, Alto, Baixo and Lezíria do Tejo
Occupies an area covering some seven-thousand-two-hundred square kilometres and has an approximate population of one hundred and seventy thousand inhabitants. The main commercial centre is Evora, which is also considered to be the capital of Alentejo.
Alentejo Central has fourteen municipalities:
Alandroal, Arraiolos, Borba, Estremoz, Évora, Montemor-o-Novo, Mourão, Portel, Redondo, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Sousel, Vendas Novas, Viana do Alentejo, Vila Viçosa.
Where to stay: Arraiolas (Pousada’s) Nossa Senhora do Assuncao, Evora Loios, Estremoz Rainha Santa Isobel, Vila Viçosa Don Joao IV. Estremoz has the busiest Pousada in the country and if you enjoy excellent food and wine, we recommend visiting São Rosas, Zona Verde and Cadeia.
Institutions of higher education: Beja Polytechnic and the University of Évora
Note: One of the two Blue Flag Marina’s is located within the municipality of Évora at Alqueva
The stunningly beautiful Alentejo Coast in Portugal has twenty Blue Flag Beaches and three Blue Flag marinas. It encapsulates the Sado Estuary in Alcacer do Sal, Troia Peninsula, and the southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Nature Park. The Alentejo Coast covers an area of more than 5,000 square kilometres with approximately 150,000 inhabitants.
The largest city is Sines which accommodates around 19,000 residents. Sines was the first and is the largest port in Portugal and the birthplace of Vasco da Gama.
The Alentejo Coastal region occupies an area covering some five-thousand-two-hundred plus square kilometres and has an approximate population of one hundred thousand inhabitants. The main commercial centre is the city of Sines.
Alentejo Litoral sub-region is made up of five municipalities:
Alcácer do Sal, Grândola, Santiago do Cacém, Sines and Odemira.
Where to stay: Alcacer do Sal Pousada Don Alfonso II, Comporta, Comporta Cocoon environmentally friendly Rural Tourism, Troia, Troia Design Five Star Hotel and Casino, Muda Sublime Comporta, the best hotel in the area.
Where to eat: Comporta. Dona Bia restaurant (Superb), Comporta Café Restaurant and beach bar, Sublime Hotel and beach restaurant, Sal restaurant and Cavalariça.
Places to visit: The stunning Alentejo coast in Portugal from Troia down to the Algarve including São Vicente Coast and Nature Park.
Grandola: Aberta Nova, Atlântica, Bico das Lulas, Carvalhal, Comporta, Pego, Tróia Galé, Troia-Mar and the marina in Troia
Odemira: Almograve, Carvalhal, Furnas, Vila Nova de Milfontes and Zambujeira do Mar
Santiago do Cacem: Costa de Santo André, Fonte do Cortiço
Sines: Grande de Porto Covo, Ilha do Pessegueiro, Morgavel, S. Torpes, Vale de Figueiros, Vasco da Gama, and the marina in Sines
Occupies an area covering some six-thousand two-hundred plus square kilometres. Has an approximate population of one-hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. The main commercial centre is the city of Portalegre.
Alto Alentejo sub-region has fifteen municipalities:
Alter do Chão, Arronches, Avis, Campo Maior, Castelo de Vide, Crato, Elvas, Fronteira, Gavião, Marvão, Monforte, Mora, Nisa, Ponte de Sor, Portalegre.
Where to stay: (Pousada’s) Crato Flor da Rosa, Elvas Santa Luzia, Marvao Santa Maria.
Places to visit: Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede, a Nature Park.
Institution of Higher Education: Portalegre Polytechnic.
Occupies an area covering some eight thousand five hundred plus square kilometres. Has an approximate population of one-hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. The main commercial centre is the city of Beja.
Baixo Alentejo sub-region has thirteen municipalities:
Aljustrel, Almodôvar, Alvito, Barrancos, Beja, Castro Verde, Cuba, Ferreira do Alentejo, Mértola, Moura, Ourique, Serpa, Vigueira.
Where to stay: Santa Clara Quinta do Barranco da Estrada (Paradise in Portugal), Santa Clara, Odemira, Alentejo. Frank and his wife Daniela are two of the most generous people you will ever meet with their location overlooking the Santa Clara Reservoir and hospitality second to none. If you enjoy a stunningly beautiful and tranquil setting and happen to enjoy sailing, swimming, hiking, or bird watching then this is the place to stay.
(Pousadas) Alvito Castelo de Alvito, Beja Sao Francisco.
Places to visit: Parque Natural do Vale Guadiana, Nature Park.
Leziria do Tejo has an area covering some four thousand plus square kilometres and an approximate population of two-hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. The main commercial centre is the city of Santarem.
Lezíra do Tejo sub-region has eleven municipalities:
Almeirim, Alpiarça, Azambuja, Benavente, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Coruche, Golegã, Rio Maior, Salvaterra de Magos, Santarém.
Alentejo stretches south of Lisbon to the tip of the Algarve and is one of the most affordable areas of Portugal to buy real estate in Alentejo. The Alentejo region attracts international buyers who are living in Portugal throughout the year and has become a preferred second home destination for many Europeans.
Coastal towns are seeing huge increases in buyer interest with sea view homes, golf villas, building plots and country estates for sale. If you intend to buy real estate in Alentejo, along the coast, then this stunning area proudly offers a myriad of gorgeous beaches, traditional villages, and the awe inspiring Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Nature Park.
The beachside village of Comporta, is one of our favourite destinations and still “off the radar” for the majority of property buyers, offering beach properties, luxury real estate, large country estates and typical village homes. Comporta is not your typical Portuguese destination and therefore you should be prepared to see a vast contrast within areas and property types.
Comporta is however, an amazing part of the country with some fifty kilometres of pristine beaches and coastline, set within a nature and agricultural reserve, with a very low population density and an even smaller construction footprint.
Over the last twenty years or so many of the wealthier Portuguese from the capital of Portugal, Lisbon including many foreigners of many different nationalities have been able to buy property in Alentejo, Portugal and have been especially attracted by the Alentejo Monte.
The Alentejo Monte is a typical detached country property and is generally located within or close to fields cultivated for agricultural production. Property prices have risen steadily over the years but are still relatively inexpensive when compared to other parts of Europe.
To sell property in Alentejo one has to have a little patience. The market is vibrant (2022), and you are able to buy homes in Alentejo at reasonable prices.
Buying property in this area of Portugal still seems to be a clever long-term investment and especially so if you decide to live here full-time as you will probably notice a huge reduction in your monthly living costs. Currently there seems to be sufficient real estate for sale to satisfy everybody’s needs.
You may fly directly into the new airport in Beja or to Lisbon or the Algarve. Generally speaking, it is far better to have arranged your own transport for getting around rather than relying on public transport.
Alentejo is one of seven regions in Portugal. The others are the Algarve, Beiras (Central), Lisbon (Coast), Oporto (North), Azores and Madeira, and is referred to as the South-Central region and covers an expansive area of some twelve thousand plus square miles and has an approximate population of seven hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants.
If you have decided to live or work in Portugal and are searching for a large tract of land or farm for commercial purposes, tourism or just as your homestead, then the Alentejo region would be a good place to start your research. Alentejo was once referred to as the breadbasket of Portugal because of its agricultural heritage and provides an abundance of land, farms, and country residences for sale.
If it doesn’t make any difference as to whether you live by the coast or further inland, then ninety percent of the time you’ll find a less expensive estate for sale the further you are from the coast.
The Alentejo Coast offers an immense array of properties that vary in price, type, condition and size and you will be able to find a property in Alentejo for as little as twenty thousand Euro’s and yet should you desire, you may invest many millions. The typical Alentejana home is the traditional single storey property that is positioned at the edge of a parcel of agricultural terrain.
These homes were once-upon-a-time inhabited by the family who worked the land. Typically, these houses are painted white with blue or yellow borders and due to the summer heat, have small windows. These homes have walls with thicknesses in excess of 60cm, with many boasting a fireplace fit for a country manor.
Currently there are a number of upscale developments taking form along the Alentejo Coast. The major players and investors are concentrating between Comporta, Troia and Melides. These developments are currently seeing hundreds of millions of Euro’s being invested, which is probably the reason why many professionals in the industry are forecasting triple digit price increases over the next ten years.
These first class developments include luxury hotels with tourist villas and condos, golf courses, horse riding stables, sailing and motor boat facilities, a variety of water sports, numerous nature trails and fauna observation and simply relaxing or spending your days at the beach. For quality, price and choice, the Alentejo Coast in Portugal, is a great place to start your property journey.
Professional Advice on Buying Property in Comporta.
