What an experience driving to the small charming town of Alvito. We were heading north from visiting the Algarve region of Portugal. Upon leaving the highway, one travelled deep into the alentejo plains and countryside. There were more horses, sheep, cows and goats than people. We were waved and pointed toward ALvito by a group of elderly gents in their caps and vests but with big broad smiles upon their faces. Crossing a tiny Roman bridge off we went through the small villages and admired the vastness of the countryside. The green green pastures full of livestock and the tiny hamlets with villages scattered about. Off in the distance was the castelo de ALvito . Upon arrival , we were greeted warmly by the staff and shown our very quaint and cozy room overlooking the courtyard. I felt like the Princess and her entourage had arrived. Peacocks strode through the gardens filled with the fresh scent of oranges and flowers even in December ! The castelo was a delight to explore, with a private chapel down the hallway, a very inviting dining room with delicious entrees with regional flair. We had a tasty lunch before relaxing at the pousada and visiting the small town. A beautiful and comfortable stay in a region missed by many travellers. Evora is not too far away for a visit and LIsbon is reached via excellent highways. We especially enjoyed the historic setting and the lovely vibrant young staff only too willing to help their guests. Highly recommend a stay here and hope to return in the near future to explore this region more completely ,.

This Pousada is a small Castle with beautifull gardens with beautiful peacoks. The rooms was large and very clean. At the reception desk a nice and polite lady welcame and drive us to the room.
The service and the food at the Restaurant was very good. Sure we will be back.

We stayed at the Pousada Alvito for one night in Oct '06 on our way to Lisbon. The Alentejo region of Portugal is stunningly beautiful and blissfully short on tourists we found which was great! The Pousada is a fantastic 15th century castle. After check-in we were shown to our room which was rustically furnished & very comfortable with a view overlooking the gardens and pool.

We went down to the pool, although it was a little too cold to actually go in. The temperature was mid 20's centigrade and although there were a couple of tables and chairs around, it would have been great to have spread out on some sun loungers. As previous reviewers have mentioned, there are about 6 peacocks who wander around and brighten up the garden!

We dined in the hotel's restaurant that evening and enjoyed our meal which was complemented with an excellent local wine. The staff had a limited knowledge of English but we easily got by and I wouldn't have expected more in such a rural part of Portugal. Breakfast the following morning was above average with a good selection of cold items and a more limited selection of hot items.

In conclusion we found the staff to be very welcoming and friendly and I'd recommend the Pousada to others travelling in this area.

I stayed with my husband in this pousada and it was one of the highlights of our 2 week trip to Portugal. The staff were friendly and helpful, almost too formal -- they stood up when we came by the front desk. We ate at the restaurant and my husband thought that it was one of the finer meals he ate in the country -- the fish was not overcooked and dry, in comparison to other restuarants all through Portugal. I am a vegetarian, and the menu had options for me unlike many other restaurants where my only choices were a large green salad or eggs for dinner. The breakfast was good, with many options and fresh juice.

We found our room to be large, very spacious, nicely decorated with one of the best quality hardwood floors I have ever seen in a hotel room. The grounds are very well kept, peaceful in general, and it was a lovely experience. There are several peacocks roaming around and they sometimes perch in the trees which was an amusing sight.

I do not understand the previous reviewer's criticisms of Portugal. This was my first time in the country. I am not shocked that tours are given in the native language of the country, Portuguese. Why not complain that tours were not given in Mandarin Chinese, think how many people in the world speak that language. It is a bit self-centered to expect all the world to cater to english speaking tourists.

I went to the Bone Chapel in Evora -- My husband and I paid 3 euro to enter for the two of us and then the 50 cents for the photos. It is incredibly petty to complain about this. I studied art history for many years. No one is getting rich off the admission fees. The cost of upkeep of historic monuments is very high, no matter what country one lives in. Every time a visitor enters a monument such as the Bone Chapel in Evora, or the Arena Chapel in Padua, the body heat and such gradually deteriorate the monument. Flash photography causes fading of the painted ceilings of the Bone Chapel. If a person is going to contribute to the decay of an ancient monument, church, or site, it seems perfectally reasonable to charge an admission fee to offset the costs of conservation and restoration.

Portugal has a wealth of monuments from castles to churches to Roman remains. All of the charges I encountered were reasonable. Considering the cost of a museum in the US, or going to a movie, I thought the costs were minor in comparison to what I learned and saw. In Lisbon most museums are free on Sundays until 2:00 pm, some all day.

The country side of the Alentejo is beautiful and there are some decent wines being made in the region.

This was a wonderful experience and I am someone who goes to Europe at least 4 times per year.