Fresco Route – Alvito

First Cultural Touring Route in our country, the Fresco Route joins 15 municipalities in Alentejo: Alvito, Cuba, Vidigueira, Viana do Alentejo, Portel, Évora, Borba, Vila Viçosa, Alandroal, Serpa, Moura, Beja, Castro Verde, Aljustrel and Montemor-o-Novo.

The Fresco Route invites you to discover Alentejo’s hidden treasure – fresco mural paintings – kept, for many concrete reasons directly connected to the development of this territory – in most churches and chapels in the area. The Fresco Route is a unique opportunity to cross these usually-closed gates and behold sometimes pristine 500-year-old paintings in all-but-forgotten monuments.

ALVITO

We suggest a foray into deep, 100% rural Alentejo, under 35 minutes away from Évora. 3rd smallest council in Portugal. 2750 souls and heritage that remains mostly untouched since the 15th century. We start at the 14th century Main Church of Alvito and discover a renaissance fresco from the late 15th century. We walk through the largest set of Manueline portals in Lower Alentejo, past the Town Hall, the Pillory and walk into the fortified manor of the 1st Baron of Portugal. Finally, across the Alcaçarias Square, into the Chapel of S. Sebastião, a late-gothic chapel covered in 1611 frescoes, with heavenly angles in the domes…