01/08/2024 – Portugal, a beauty reflected in the sky

 

 

The beauty of the skies can be indescribable, and the sensation amazing. Normally it's only possible artificially, in a Planetarium, where you sit comfortably for a lesson on the stars.

In Portugal, we are lucky enough to have this experience in the open air and in various parts of the country!

In the middle of the Alentejo, the marvellous Alqueva sky looks like dark velvet covered in an immense blanket of stars.

Considered a protected area and internationally certified as a reserve, we find the Dark Sky®, or ‘Starlight Tourism Destination’, which extends over an area of around 10,000 square kilometres.

In the midst of nature, you'll be surprised by the ever-mysterious megalithic monuments such as the Cromeleque do Xerez, in the surroundings of the Convento da Orada, or the dolmens and menhirs that form part of a tour of the region's heritage.

And of course, you can't miss a stop in the marvellous walled village of Monsaraz, where the streets and houses are made of schist, or in the town of Mértola, which stretches along the banks of the River Guadiana, mixing Muslim and Christian heritage in its streets.

There are many options for discovering the Alqueva region and the Alentejo, but the Dark Sky® Route is undoubtedly a journey of surprises and discoveries that you will always!

A fantastic programme to do alone, in a group or with the family, it promises to please all those looking for a unique experience!