n Locator Map (for more detail see Area Map)
n Locator Map (for more detail see Area Map)
Archaeologists date the pedras talhas, hewn stones, near Évora to between 4000 and 2000 BC. Their symbolism remains mysterious. Dolmens are thought to be where Neolithic communities buried their dead, together with their possessions – more than 130 have been found in the region. Tall phallic menhirs jutting from olive groves immediately suggest fertility rites, while cromlechs – carved stones standing in regulated groups – probably had religious significance. This tour includes examples of each; more can be found further east, near Monsaraz and Reguengos de Monsaraz, and the museum in Castelo de Vide has finds related to the area.
A SHORT WALK Alentejo
n Double-tap image to read the labels
Length 80 km (50 miles)
Stopping-off points Évora; Grutas do Escoural
Terrain Access roads to the sites are often no more than tracks, and signposting can be erratic