Alentejo – Five Day Break in Porto Covo – & a Music Festival.

The Alentejo is the beautiful region of Portugal that lies between the Algarve and central Lisbon region. This vast and sparsely populated area – 10% of the population of Portugal – covers over 30% of Portugal and is characterised by its gentle rolling hills, historic fortified towns and intense summer heat,which is tempered by the Atlantic breeze on the coast,only.

The North is quite flat,vast fields of wheat, a legacy from the Roman occupation and there are also great forests of Cork Oak. The coastline,however, is a dramatic succession of cliffs, wild seascapes and isolated beaches.

Porto Covo is the base chosen – and its reputedly best campsite – Costra Do Vizir. And it has proven to be a good choice with excellent facilities and spacious pitches for Motorhomes. The landscaping is thoughtfully done. And, for sunbathers there is the choice between a good sized pool or a 6 minute walk to the beaches.

From Porto Covo it is possible to walk along the cliff tops,via its quaint little fishing port.

A choice of routes,but we followed part of a recently established “ Fishermans’ Trail”/“The Vincentena,” which can walked completely in four days,or so – I shall investigate that as a possibility for next year .

Porto Covo is surrounded by holiday villas, with more being developed, but that does not spoil the old part of the village, with its square and Main Street,pedestrianised and given over to shops and fish restaurants.

A weekend Music Festival is taking place ,sponsored by a local radio station and a brewery – the stage is set in front of the little parish church – I wonder if the musicians get to use the Vestry to get changed? The stage looks “state of the art” with lights and a huge range of speakers.

Craft stalls and portable food outlets have taken over adjacent streets – it all looks well organised. It has added to the variety of visitors over the last two days- younger people, with dreadlocks still very fashionable and some eye catching fashions.

The other day, descending to the cove, we passed an eccentric looking soul – a troubadour ? – picking early blackberries and strumming his guitar as he walked on.

Looking forward to the music – I hope we get some Portuguese folk music – though I hope it’s not Fado,so mournful in my experience.

As has been the case during all of this trip, mercifully few Brits, Portuguese families tend to dominate and that is both welcome and understandable. Hannah in particular has become very fond of Porto Covo and it has been an enjoyable stay – some walking, averaging 6-7 miles day, swimming, reading, BBQs and relaxing.

Sunday 21st, heading Northwards then East 120 miles to Evora, UNESCO Designated Heritage Site,for a couple of days – temperatures of 37-38* predicted, so it will be an early start for touring the city, first visited in the mid 70s. Local bus outside the Campsite which is a bonus.