"Sand, sea and sustenance"

A costa alentejana está entre os 20 destinos europeus de eleição (e melhor relação qualidade/preço) do Guardian. Com destaque para as feiras, mercados e suas delícias gastronómicas. E como nós os entendemos, essa terrível enfeitiçadora também nos tem agarrados pelo estômago!

Tour operator Sunvil has launched a year-long food festival (bit.ly/1djokoz) in the Alentejo, designed to highlight restaurants and food producers off the tourist trail. These include A Escola in Alcacer do Sol (restauranteaescola.pai.pt), a converted schoolhouse that serves a winning rabbit pie, and Casa do Porco Preto (barrancarnes.com) in Barrancos, which makes ham from free-range black pigs. To combine sand, sea and sustenance, book into Herdade do Freixial guesthouse, with its pool and yoga classes. Around 30 minutes' walk away is the village of Vila Nova de Milfontes, where you can tuck into fish or roast kid overlooking the sea at Tasca do Celso, or feast on grilled prawns and sardines at beach shack A Choupana.
• From £494pp for a week's B&B at Herdade do Freixial, including flights and car hire (020-8758 4722, sunvil.co.uk)