Alter do Chão

Alter do Chão, an enchanting village in the Alentejo region of Portugal’s Portalegre district, is a destination full of history, tradition, and tranquillity, where every street invites visitors to discover the authenticity of inland Portugal. With elegant and well-preserved heritage, the village stands out for its whitewashed houses with coloured stripes, cobbled and tree-lined streets, and beautiful manor houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, which give it a special charm. There is much to visit and enjoy, from the castle to the Church of Nosso Senhor Jesus do Outeiro, the Church of Misericórdia, the Chapel of Santana, the Church of São Francisco, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Alegria, the Church of the Convent of Santo António, and the Chapel of Santo António dos Olivais. But Alter do Chão is best known for its Stud Farm, founded in 1748 by King João V, an iconic place dedicated to breeding the Lusitano horse and now associated with the Professional Agricultural School of Alter do Chão, the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, and a branch of the University of Évora, among other notable features.