Lunch at leisure (or optional for an additional 20€).
Tour by tourist bus;
Boat trip on the reservoir (included);
Alentejo singing (included);
Travel insurance.
BOAT TRIP ON THE ALQUEVA RIVER
A unique and indescribable experience. On the largest artificial lake in Europe, stories about Alqueva, the dam, the new floating photovoltaic power plant, the surrounding territory, the heritage, the fauna and flora unfold. All while the boat sails from the Guadiana River to the Tapada estate, from the Bay of Turtles to the Codes stream.
ALENTEJO SINGING
Alentejo singing (Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO) is the sonic soul that echoes on the banks of the Alqueva. If the waters of the great lake changed the physical landscape, the singing maintained the emotional landscape of the region, adapting its "styles" to the new reality.
MONSARAZ CASTLE
Monsaraz Castle stands like a schist sentinel over the landscape, offering the most privileged view over the immense Alqueva reservoir and functioning as a medieval balcony overlooking the Alentejo region. Built of schist and surrounded by walls that tell centuries of history, the castle dominates the top of a hill, offering a 360-degree panoramic view that extends to Spain and over the blue waters of Alqueva.
ALQUEVA
Alqueva is much more than a simple reservoir; it is the largest artificial lake in Europe and an engine of economic and environmental transformation. With its hundreds of islands and hidden corners, it has become a prime destination for nature and nautical tourism, and is also the world's first Starlight Reserve, where the night sky is protected for stargazing.
ALQUEVA DAM
Inaugurated in 2002 after decades of planning, the Alqueva Dam is a monumental engineering infrastructure that dominates the course of the Guadiana River. With a 96-meter-high concrete wall, its function ranges from hydroelectric power generation to agricultural supply, being the central piece that allowed the creation of the entire tourist and economic ecosystem of the region. This colossal engineering work not only altered the physiognomy of the region, but also forced the rebirth of the village of Luz.
ALDEIA DA LUZ
The Village of Luz is a unique case of resilience and memory, having been the only village completely submerged by the rising waters of the dam. The village we visit today is a modern replica built from scratch to accommodate the former inhabitants, keeping their heritage alive through the Luz Museum, which documents the emotional and physical transition between the old and the new land.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION?
