The Alentejo is the region that lies between Lisbon and the Algarve. It’s actually Portugal’s largest region, covering a third of the country. With its huge cork plantations, wheat fields, and vineyards it is often referred to as the “garden” of Portugal.  From a MICE point of view the UNESCO-listed city of Evora has great hotels and an improving range of activities for groups.

Porto is flourishing as a destination and rightly so, and this June it will be in the international spotlight as host city for the finals of the inaugural UEFA Nations League. The upsurge in interest in this UNESCO-listed city has been accompanied by a hotel boom – mainly small, boutique properties in the historic centre. One of our favourites is a 5* hotel which opened at the end of 2018.

A View from a Bridge: Porto has some great bridges! The Arrábida Bridge was the world’s largest concrete arch bridge when it was completed in 1963.  Arcing 270m in a single swoop over the Douro River it links Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia.  From the top you can gaze across the jumbled old city on one side and the river mouth and ocean on the other.

Queluz Palace is probably the least visited of the palaces in the Sintra area.  It has recently been totally restored to its former glory. The Palace dates back to the 18th century and is considered an excellent example of Portugal’s Rococo architecture. Its sprawling gardens, fountains, and statues have earned it its nickname as the Versailles of Portugal.  It is also available for hire for private dinner events.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, and perhaps contrary to popular belief, S.L. Benfica is the world’s most widely supported football club. We can combine a visit of the “Stadium of Light” with a flight of the club’s eagle and a cocktail in the players’ tunnel.   For those wanting more action we can organise penalty shoot outs.

Ideal for groups of up to 20 people, the fully participatory cooking experiences can be based around local Algarvian cuisine, or typical Portuguese dinners, or perhaps learning some Michelin-style wackiness with “spherifications” and foam!