4 Best Sights in Évora and the Alentejo, Portugal

The arcade-lined square in the center of the old walled city is named after Évora's liberator, Gerald the Fearless. During Caesar's time, the square, marked by a large arch, was the Roman forum. In 1571 the arch was destroyed to make room for the fountain, a simple half sphere made of white Estremoz marble and designed by the Renaissance architect Afonso Álvares. Nowadays, it's a lovely spot to take in the scenery over coffee or cocktails at one of the many cafés with tables on the square. On the eastern side is a narrow cobblestone pedestrian thoroughfare called Rua 5 de Outubro that leads to the cathedral.

One of Évora's most beautiful squares is characterized by paired stone towers that guard one of the principal entrances to the walled old city. The spires of the Sé rise above the towers, and in the center of the square is an unusual Renaissance fountain. The large white-marble sphere, supported by a single column, bears a commemorative inscription in Latin dated 1556. Overlooking the fountain is the Cordovil Mansion, on whose terrace are several particularly attractive arches decorated in the Manueline-Mudéjar style.

Castelo de Vide's large, baroque central square is bordered by the Igreja de Santa Maria (St. Mary's Church) and the town hall. An alleyway to the right of the church leads to the town symbol: a canopied 16th-century marble fountain. Another cobblestone lane leads from the fountain up to the Juderia (ancient Jewish quarter) On the last Friday of every month the open-air Mercado Franco takes place here.

The lower town of Estremoz, a maze of narrow streets and white houses, radiates from the Rossio, a huge, central square. Stands lining it sell the town's famous colorful pottery. In addition to the multicolor, hand-painted plates, pitchers, and dolls, note the earthenware jugs decorated with bits of local white marble. There's a weekly market here on Saturday mornings.