Estremoz

On Monday we headed to the small village of Estremoz, also situated on top of a hill and ringed by a protective stone wall.  This region in Portugal is called the Alentejo and is known for its vineyards and olive groves - all of which line the roads and make for such pretty scenic drives.

We started in the old quarter where there is a 13th-century castle which has since been turned into a hotel.  However, you can still climb up to the top of the tower to get 360 degree views of the surrounding area.  

We spent the remainder of the morning walking through the streets of the village. 

Our Lord of the Innocents Chapel

Church of San Francisco

After exploring Estremoz, we drove to Mouchão, a family-run vineyard established in 1901.  They do not do tastings at the winery; however, they encourage you to walk around and explore their buildings and vineyards.  I read they have a shop where you can buy their products including wine, olive oil and honey, but did not see it when we visited.  

When we initially drove to Estremoz, we passed through yet another hilltop village, Évora Monte.  On the drive back to our Airbnb, we decided to stop by and have a look around.  There is not much in this tiny village except for the Castelo de Évora Monte Castle (which you can see from the road below).  The castle was built in 1306 and we were able to climb up to the top.