We can never quite remember what we booked or why we thought it was a good idea at the time but this place was a great idea. A small farm outside of town and the 21 Century, whose owner Rui didn't speak a word of English or French. We had a traditional blue and white cottage and courtyard. Pick the fruit for breakfast he gesticulated... or I think that's what he said... pick the fruit we did... figs and oranges ... yum!
The temperature rose from 18 degrees to 38 and so we were glad of our cool cottage with its thick walls and soothing views over the cornfields ... oh and the olympic sized swimming pool!
Also loved how they had carved and painted the walls...zany eh?
I don't know why I am addicted to markets... but I am. I don't know whether it is the people, the strange things for sale, or simply the vibrancy of the fruits and food... but I love it.
Not so sure about the poor chicks though. They were boxed up and taken gleefully away - for a good life pecking the soil we hoped.
The plains around the town stretch out as far as the eye can see but the city itself rises up to dominate the landscape. Our entrance was through the lower gate and our first sight the bullring. I'm always so surprised to see this still happens! The bull ring was only built in 1907!
The town is a mish mash of modern and medieval building with scatterings of decrepit houses. Dominating the town is The Torre das Três Coroas (Tower of the Three Crowns) an impressive marble keep which rises 3 metres. This and the 13 Century ramparts which circle the upper town give the town regal air and a sense of the strategic importance of this town has had over the years. Soldiers still patrol the ramparts.
Dona Isabel lived here in the 13th century and is now revered as a saint. Her palace is now a 5 star hotel! Stunning views from the top of the tower, including one of the long road across the plains and through the mountains... the one we will be taking to Mértola.
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