Évora has been important and influential for centuries. During the Middle Ages it was a centre of learning and culture and even the university dates back to 1557. Much of Évora's rich history can still be seen today. The Temple of Diana was built in the 2nd century AD and the cathedral dates back to 1186.

Around Évora you can find various megalithic monuments and burial chambers called dolmens, built during the Stone Age. The most impressive is the Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro, 10km southwest of Évora, which is the largest dolmen in Europe.

There are also various menhirs, single stone monuments said to symbolise the worship of life and fertility that also date back to prehistoric times. There's a 6 metre high example at Outeiro, not far from Monsaraz.

The Central Alentejo is also famous for its handicrafts. North of Évora, the hilltop town of Arraiolos is home to the world famous handmade Arraiolos carpets. Dating back more than five centuries, the carpets are modelled on Moorish designs. Moreover, the Central Alentejo is in the heart of wine country, producing excellent full-bodied reds and fruity whites in Borba, Reguengos and Redondo.

On the way to Estremoz in the north of the Central Alentejo is Évora Monte, a hilltop walled village with a 16th century castle. The atmospheric town of Estremoz, home to past kings and queens, is also well worth visiting. Another charming little hilltop village is Monsaraz, overlooking the river Guadiana and the Alqueva dam. Inhabited since prehistoric times, it still has a medieval feel to it today.