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Local Interests
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Something for Everyone
Castro Verde
Within walking distance
the extremely well equipped town
has several restaurants
and coffee shops, a
choice of three large supermarkets
with excellent fresh
fish, meat and deli
counters, a health centre
with A&E and 24hr pharmacy
and a large open air market
on the 1st Wednesday of
every month.
The town has boutiques, hardware and household shops. There is a post office,
several banks with cash
points, children play
park, an internet cafe,
a night club
www.santaloucura.com , public swimming pools
and tennis courts, a spa
offering various
therapies and
treatments, a
coach station, cinema,
several churches a cultural centre
and museum.
There are also several petrol stations within Castro Verde.
Castro Verde
With all these amenities Castro Verde still maintains all the Portuguese culture,
architecture and traditions of a beautiful historical town.
Castro Verde is flanked by the towns of Aljustrel, Mertola, Ourique and Almodovar offering similar facilities and all steeped in history of the Turdetans, Romans, Arabs and the Moors. This area was also once the domain of the
Santiago knights.
The city of
Mertola with its
stunning castle
Guest Guide
Our comprehensive guest guide provides details
and maps on recommended
local restaurants. This
guide can be found with
your welcome pack upon
your arrival and
provides useful
information when
planning day trips as
well as local interests
and attractions.
Local Leisure Facilities
Modern leisure facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools,
outdoor tennis courts,
squash courts and a gym.
Activities
The Alentejo landscape
is the ideal for a
number of activates and
provides a fantastic
backdrop for Horse Riding,
Quad Bikes,
Hot Air Ballooning, Karting,
Paintball, Archery, Bird Watching,
Jeep Hill Safaris and
Freshwater Fishing. The
un-spoilt coast line
offers Big Game Fishing, Windsurfing
and Scuba Driving
classes.
To swim with the
Dolphins participants must be
at least 8 years old
Swim with Dolphins
For
a fun day out for
the whole family we can
recommend several Water
Parks and the ZooMarine
Park located in Guia
offers a unique opportunity to swim with
the Dolphins.
A 45 minute drive from
Castro Verde.
www.zoomarine.pt
Golf
Portugal is famous for
its many Golf courses within the Algarve
and Costa de Lisboa
region.
www.portugalvirtual.pt
Motor Racing - Autodromo
International do Algarve
Hosting FIA Formula 1
testing, FIA GP2 series.
A1 Grand Prix, FIM
Superbike, La Mans
series and many more. A
50 minute drive from
Castro Verde.
www.autodromoalgarve.com
Tours and Excursions
Megalithic sites, Boat Trips - River and Costal, Natural Parks,
Jeep Safaris & Winery's.
 Cultural Heritage
The virtue of the areas in the Tourist Region of the Golden Plain is their diversity. Visit and discover castles; churches; convents; museums; towers; chapels and ancient ruins. The region has a vast architectural, historical and cultural heritage, bringing together the plain "Montes" and the most elaborate artistic creations.
The Romans and Arabs left their marks across the region, in the style and details of monuments, especially in the beautiful churches and not least the language, customs and faces of the local people.
Historic and Archeological Sites and Beauty Spots
Our guest guide provides details on such attractions.
Local Cuisine
We recommend you try the regional cuisine, famous for its succulent black pig and an endless variety of fresh fish and shell fish. Cured hams and sausages; homemade bread and cheeses; "migas" (pork and bread crumbs); "acardas" (breaded soups with coriander, vinegar or garlic and tomatoes); "ensopado de borrego" (lamb stew); "a pastora" (lamb cooked with bay and garlic) are just a few of the fine culinary offers to those who visit the Golden Plains. There are plenty of game dishes as well as sweets which were traditionally made in convents. Regional wines: Vidigueira; Cuba and Alvito; Pias; Moura and Amaraleja are all producers of quality wines.
A classic Alentejano dish
"Pork & Clams"
Castro Verde along
with its
neighbouring towns
host a number of
excellent
restaurants offering
a wide range of
menus and regional
wines at great
prices. We provide
maps on how to get
there and a pocket
English translation
to help you select
from the menu.
Nature
Enjoy the abundance of animal and plant life. Great Bustards, white storks, cranes, kestrels and birds of the gallinaceous species are established in the region.
 This region is one of the last places in Europe to find such birds as the Great Bustard.
Its is one of the
heaviest flying
birds in the world.
The males can in
some cases weigh
more than fifteen
kilos.
Now in
retreat and has
disappeared from
several countries.
Castro Verde is home
to the largest
population in the
country estimated at
around 800
individuals.
 Bird Watching
www.lpn.pt
Centro de Educacao
Ambiental do Vale
Goncalinho, LPN
(Nature Protection
League) created in
1948 is the oldest
environmental NGO in
Iberia. One of the
developed projects
is the sustainable
Castro Verde
Programme. It
started in 1993,
with the acquisition
of 5 estates in
Castro Verde
promoting the
conservation
for
steppe birds.
We are
happy to arrange for
parties to visit the
centre, a 10 minute
drive from Monte da
Quinta.
Wine Tourism
Once upon a time
Alentejo vines
were cultivated
by Phoenicians,
Greeks and
Romans. Nowadays
they are grown
on vast farms
and
wine-producing
estates and
their wines have
put the name
Alentejo among
the best wines
in Portugal,
while its
culinary
tradition is
regarded as one
of the most
tasty and
original. A
world of
different
flavours that
requires time to
understand and
appreciate –
just like the
rest of the
Alentejo.
We can recommend
fantastic tours
followed by
lunch or dinner
at three of our
favourite
Vineyards and
all located
within a 20
Minutes drive of
Monte da Quinta.
A relaxing afternoon
with a stunning
backdrop.
Our local
Vineyard
www.malhadinhanova.pt
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova winery and vineyards welcomes visitors for guided tours, tasting,
lunch or diner. Visitors have the opportunity to buy wine and other products. Riding, biking and fishing are other activities that can be arranged.
We have a good
relationship with
the proprietors and are happy to
arrange parties to
visit. A ten minute drive from Castro Verde.
Cliff Richard
Vineyard
www.winesvidanova.com
Quinta do Moinho
Sir Cliff
Richard's
vineyard.
Sir Cliff has known and
loved the Algarve for
over 40 years. His idea
to plant a vineyard at
his property Quinta do
Moinho provided the
genesis point for the
Vida Nova range of
wines. Sir Cliff is very
much involved in
producing the wine. When
in Portugal he is often
seen getting his hands
dirty in the vineyard or
indeed his feet dirty in
the winery. Located in
Guia, a 40
minute drive
from Castro
Verde.
Hunting
The Golden Plain has the most beautiful game reserve. Partridges, wild rabbit, hare, turtle doves and quails are widespread and wild boar can also be found.
Fishing
www.flap-holidays.com
Fishing is the leisure activity which presides over lakes and rivers. The main species in the region are catfish, carp and boce, living in uniquely beautiful surroundings.
Portuguese Recipes
www.portuguesecooking.com
Traditional
Portuguese recipes
combine a blend of
flavours and
techniques of many
other cultures
dating back
centuries.
Below are some
related links for further tourist information.
www.rt-planiciedourada.pt
www.visitalentejo.pt
www.vinhosdoalentejo.pt
www.bbc.co.uk/languages
www.portugal-live.net/UK/
www.visitportugal.com
www.algarve-information.com
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