Map of Alentejo

South of the River Tagus, north of the Algarve, east or south-east of the Lisbon region and stretching across to the border with Spain, the Alentejo region is considered the breadbasket of Portugal. Its largely flat terrain, covered with the cereals that make it the planicie dorada, golden plain, reminds many of La Mancha in Spain. It is roughly divided into the Alto (high) and Baixo (low) Alentejos, the latter being more representative of the stretching-to-the-horizon landscapes considered typical alentejano, while the former is rockier, even hilly. Its most important centres of population are Beja, capital of the district of the same name in the south of the Alentejo, Portalegre in the north, and the lovely, historic city of Évora.