I stayed with my husband in this pousada and it was one of the highlights of our 2 week trip to Portugal. The staff were friendly and helpful, almost too formal -- they stood up when we came by the front desk. We ate at the restaurant and my husband thought that it was one of the finer meals he ate in the country -- the fish was not overcooked and dry, in comparison to other restuarants all through Portugal. I am a vegetarian, and the menu had options for me unlike many other restaurants where my only choices were a large green salad or eggs for dinner. The breakfast was good, with many options and fresh juice.

We found our room to be large, very spacious, nicely decorated with one of the best quality hardwood floors I have ever seen in a hotel room. The grounds are very well kept, peaceful in general, and it was a lovely experience. There are several peacocks roaming around and they sometimes perch in the trees which was an amusing sight.

I do not understand the previous reviewer's criticisms of Portugal. This was my first time in the country. I am not shocked that tours are given in the native language of the country, Portuguese. Why not complain that tours were not given in Mandarin Chinese, think how many people in the world speak that language. It is a bit self-centered to expect all the world to cater to english speaking tourists.

I went to the Bone Chapel in Evora -- My husband and I paid 3 euro to enter for the two of us and then the 50 cents for the photos. It is incredibly petty to complain about this. I studied art history for many years. No one is getting rich off the admission fees. The cost of upkeep of historic monuments is very high, no matter what country one lives in. Every time a visitor enters a monument such as the Bone Chapel in Evora, or the Arena Chapel in Padua, the body heat and such gradually deteriorate the monument. Flash photography causes fading of the painted ceilings of the Bone Chapel. If a person is going to contribute to the decay of an ancient monument, church, or site, it seems perfectally reasonable to charge an admission fee to offset the costs of conservation and restoration.

Portugal has a wealth of monuments from castles to churches to Roman remains. All of the charges I encountered were reasonable. Considering the cost of a museum in the US, or going to a movie, I thought the costs were minor in comparison to what I learned and saw. In Lisbon most museums are free on Sundays until 2:00 pm, some all day.

The country side of the Alentejo is beautiful and there are some decent wines being made in the region.

This was a wonderful experience and I am someone who goes to Europe at least 4 times per year.