Alter do Chao - The Roman connection...

Alter do Chao is located in the district of Portalegre, approx. 30kms - a half an hour drive from Portalegre, with a population circa. 3,500.

Originally acknowledged as a route used by the Romans connecting Lisbon to Merida in Spain, Alter do Chao today is a gorgeous little town which is seeped in history. Its castle, which was re-built in 1357, dominates the surrounding gorgeous mediaval houses built during the 17th-18th centuries. You'll also find the Janela Manuelina - a beautiful window from the Manueline era hidden away in these charming little streets, which is well worth the search. 

The 16th century marble fountain, Fonte Renascentista and the Estacao Arqueologica de Ferragial, Roman ruins are also worth capturing. The Casa do Alamo (Alamo Palace) is now run as an art gallery, library and tourist office.
The town also has a great number of churches with fantastic art and architecture. These include, Igreja da Misericordia, Igreja do Sr Jesus do Outeiro, Igreja da Sra da Alegria, Igreja Matriz and the Igreja do Convento de Sto Antonio.

Alter do Chao is probably best known for breeding the Lusitanian horse (Alter-Real, a Portuguese breed) and on the outskirts you will find the highly recognised Coudelaria de Alter estate (Couldelaria Real). It was founded in 1748 as a horseriding school for the royals as well as providing high class horses for the royal court and has been running ever since. Today this equestrian estate is open to the public and maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture. As well as this, it holds a falconry housing beautiful birds of prey all bred in captivity performing flight demonstrations daily and has a museum displaying suits of armour and a beautiful collection of antique horse-drawn carriages.

Also on the outskirts you will find the Ponte de Vila Formosa (Roman bridge), one of the most important bridges in Portugal, which still remains today.

Just a few more shots to entice you...

So where to next?

Photography: beepbeepeurope 
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