Page 303 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

STAY

Pousada de Santa
Maria
This cosy pousada
makes good use of three
former townhouses. Its
restaurant offers jaw-
dropping views.
! F4 ⌂ Rua 24 de
Janeiro 7, Marvão
∑ pousadas.pt
Fonte da Vila, a 16th-century stone ¡¡¡
fountain located in the Jewish Quarter
of Castelo de Vide Pousada Convento
Beja
A chance to stay in a
5 13th­century synagogue former 13th-century
housing a small museum. The
convent, with a
Castelo de Vide town’s oldest chapel, dating restaurant, pool
from the same time, Salvador and tennis courts.
! F4 £ @ n Praça Dom
Pedro V; 245 908 227 do Mundo on the Estrada de ! E6 ⌂ Largo D Nuno
Circunvalação, has a much Álvares Pereira, Beja
Sprawled out on a lush green admired depiction of the Holy ∑ pousadas.pt
slope of the Serra de São Family’s flight into Egypt by an
Mamede, the pretty spa town un known 18th­century artist. ¡¡¡
of Castelo de Vide, enjoyed by In the upper town, the tiny
the Romans, has worn well. It Nossa Senhora da Alegria Pousada de Santa
is fringed by modern devel­ offers a feast of 17th­century Rainha Isabel
opment but the lower town, floral tiles. It stands within the Set inside Estremoz’s
around Praça Dom Pedro V, walls of the castle that gave historic castle, with
retains its Baroque church of the town its name. This was valuted ceilings and a
Santa Maria, the 18th­century rebuilt in 1310 by King Dinis, pool in its lovely
town hall and pillory, and who negotiated here to marry gardens.
hand some mansions from Isabel of Aragon. Inside the  F5 ⌂ Largo de Dom
the same era. In the Largo castle are two museums, the Dinis, Estremoz
Frederico Laranjo is one of Megalith Interpretation Centre ∑ pousadas.pt
several sources of the town’s and the Military Architecture ¡¡¡
cura tive waters: the Fonte da and History Museum.
Vila, a carved stone fountain
with a pillared canopy. Just
above is the maze­like 6
Judiaria, where small white In 1662, the town’s fortunes
houses sprout vivid pots of Crato changed as invading Spanish
geraniums. Its cobbled alleys ! F4 £ @ n Mosteiro de forces sacked and burned the
are lined with fine Gothic Santa Maria de Flor da town, which never recovered.
doorways and conceal a The Hospitallers’ castle
Rosa, inside the pousada;
245 997 341 remains, in ruins, and in Praça
do Município the 15th­century
Sprawled out on Modest houses under outsize Varanda do Grão­Prior marks
a lush green slope chimneys give no hint of the entrance to what was the
of the Serra de São Crato’s past eminence. Part Grand Prior’s residence.
Rua de Santa Maria leads,
of a gift from Sancho II to the
Mamede, the pretty powerful crusading Order of via an avenue of orange trees,
spa town of Castelo Hospitallers, Crato was the to the Igreja Matriz, much
de Vide, enjoyed by Order’s head quarters by altered since its 13th­century
the Romans, has 1350. Its prestige was such origins. In the chancel, 18th­
century azulejos depict fishing,
that Manuel I and João III were
worn well. both married here. hunting and travelling scenes.
303

302-303_EW_Portugal.indd 303 20/09/2018 10:42