Lovely breakfast but it wasn’t served until 8:30 am, so it was a late getaway after 9 am. Fortunately today is overcast (so less glare!!) although still windy (but cross wind rather than head wind).
We depart our lovely inn.
We found The Road - yes, the road we should have ridden up yesterday, but hey (!) I always say I like a round trip …
A few stops and starts for minor adjustments. Bought water at a pastelaria at a town at the foot of Monsaraz; two locals were already enjoying a beer …
We toiled our way up and down hills; the Kiwi chap we had met last night up on the ramparts of the castle at Monsaraz gave us a toot as he passed us in his landcruiser - a free spirit that one! Pretty flowers line the quiet back roads. Stopped for a coffee and more water at Terena (paying top dollar in these places: 4 x the supermarket price!) where the oleanders were pretty in pink.
50 kms to go.
We were aiming for Vila Viçosa: it made for a great lunch spot in a very pretty park in the shade (overcast today but still 29 deg C) - and the tables and chairs, the paths and (MF informs me) the urinal in the male toilet (!) - are all made of marble.
The marble in the region is of superior quality and known worldwide; it comes out from around 160 quarries.
It was a worthwhile break here. We found the Castle and opposite it at the end of the super large Praça da República - lined with orange trees in fruit - is the very imposing Igreja de São Bartolomeu (1636): standing out is the golden carved big altarpiece, with the throne and the sacrarium also in golden wood.
On the way to Lidl to buy water and bananas (you can’t seem to buy lollies here!?), we found the Mannerist style Paço Ducal de Vila Viçosa. We didn’t go in but this is a super impressive building. It is a royal palace and for many centuries the seat of the House of Braganza, one of the most important noble houses in Portugal. The facade is lined with pink Estremoz marble (although it seemed a lovely blue-grey to me).
From here it was almost 20 kms to go: quiet roads through the very pretty town of Borba (I think) - noted for its high-quality marble and fine wines. But then the dreaded N4. The traffic was incessant, it was hot, and we had to keep stopping to drink water; finally (!) we arrive at our very flash accommodation in Estremoz (looking somewhat like something the cat had dragged in - and there are plenty of those: cats!).
Had a wander through town, craning our necks to get glimpses of the castle high up above us. Off-streets from the 'main drag' are incredibly steep!
The castle is lit up at night. We could see it as we walked home from dinner: a lovely meal that I had booked back in late January; despite being a Michelin-star establishment, it had a lovely informal, family feel about it.
We walked past the Dragões de Olivença where a young guard popped out very smartly to ensure we didn't take any photos; it is a cavalry regiment of the Portuguese army.
The main square was lit up too with a pretty coloured fountain. There are some wonderful buildings here.
Rode 67 kms; and we climbed 763 m.
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