Estremoz: Marble Town, Castle and Saturday Market

Estremoz is the Alentejo’s “white town”: a hilltop fortress town built from the local marble, with a castle that’s now a pousada and a huge Saturday market. It’s famous for its clay figurines. It’s an easy stop between Lisbon and the Spanish border, or a day trip from Évora.

Quick answer: Estremoz is about 2 hours from Lisbon and 40 minutes from Évora. Visit on a Saturday for the market on the main square (the Rossio), climb to the castle, and look for the colourful clay Bonecos de Estremoz. Combine with Vila Viçosa and Elvas. See places to stay in Estremoz.

Things to do

• The Saturday market: fruit, cheese, sausages, pottery, antiques and junk on the huge Rossio square.
• The castle: the keep of the medieval castle, part of a pousada, with views over the plains.
• Bonecos de Estremoz: traditional painted clay figurines, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• Marble: marble everywhere, from doorsteps to pavements. Nearby quarries can be visited on tours.
• Food and wine: Alentejo cooking and local wine estates. See Alentejo wine tours.

Nearby

• Vila Viçosa: the marble town of the Braganza dukes, with a grand ducal palace.
• Elvas: a UNESCO-listed frontier fortress. See Elvas.
• Évora: see Évora and the Alentejo.

Tips

• Saturday mornings are the time to visit.
• Stay in the castle: the pousada is one of the most atmospheric places to stay in the Alentejo.

More: Alentejo hotels, Portugal souvenirs and castles in Portugal.

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