ALENTEJO and ÉVORA REGION
Évora is the capital of Alentejo, whose name means “beyond the Tagus river”. It is a beautiful region of undulating green hills and picturesque villages of white houses with terracotta roofs. The region is referred to as “the breadbasket” of Portugal, thanks to its rich soil and excellent irrigation. The main areas of agriculture are cork forestry and production, wines, olives, almonds, cereals and citrus fruit. Mining is also an important part of the economy as is the marble quarried near Estremoz.
Alentejo is the world's most important area for growing cork oak, or “sobreiro” in Portuguese and cork forests are protected by law. As the areas surrounding the trees are usually given over to grazing, unique ecosystems of livestock, citrus trees, vines or olives have formed in these forests. The bark is still harvested by hand to this day by teams of men with hand-axes stripping the tree off their bark.
Due to its position inland, the region is often subject to heat waves and typical summer temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees. The water reserve from the huge Alqueva dam that was completed in 2002 serves as a guaranteed water supply for irrigation and domestic use.
ÉVORA
From the rise and fall of ancient Rome to the catastrophes of the 20th century, Évora is a city that has lived to see may changes, with a history spanning almost five millennia. Thanks to this, its historical centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and hosts, among others, an old medieval wall protecting the city, a Roman temple and medieval aqueduct.
Évora is ranked the second most liveable city in all of Portugal, combining new and old, and is a regional capital that bustles with life and culture.
History:
Having survived for five millennia, it comes as no surprise that the history of Évora has been tumultuous. The name itself is said to have Celtic roots, possibly stemming from the word for “yew tree”, giving Évora the meaning “place of yew trees”. It was brought under Roman control, of which the main monument is the Roman temple. Thanks to the city's beneficial position at the junction of several important trade routes, it expanded into a walled city.
In the 8th century Évora, or Jabura as it was then called, fell under Moorish dominion, together with much of the Iberian peninsula. They made considerable efforts to build upon the defences of the city by fortifying the protective Roman walls and establishing a Kasbah.
The city was reconquered by the Christians in 1156 and construction began soon after of the cathedral. Portugal became a major colonial power from the 15th century during the Age of Exploration. Kings began to live in Évora with increasing frequency and the city entered its golden age. Numerous buildings were constructed to signify this era, among them the St. Claire Convent, the royal palace and various other notable convents. Over the centuries, Évora became a hub of art, religious influence and architecture.
In more recent history, the Franco-Spanish invasion in 1807 sparked off the Peninsular war, part of the Napoleonic Wars, with the resulting joint Franco-Spanish occupation of Portugal and the fleeing of the court to Brazil. At the Battle of Évora, over 8000 people were slaughtered (while the French lost 290 soldiers of their own). By 1811 the French were driven out.
Today, the city is known for the various monuments that mark the different eras of Portugal, and indeed Europe as a whole, the excellent wine, as well as being an attractive place to live.
Recommended reading : The First Global Village by Martin Page
