By reading the inscriptions and heraldic representations present on the tombs located within the space of the Convent of Nª. Sorª do Espinheiro, now perfectly restored, we can take a trip back in time and learn more about prominent members of the government of the Kingdom and the City of Évora, over the course of about three centuries, but with special attention to the second half of the 15th century, during the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, this and much more to discover…

For many centuries, the Jerónimos monks who lived in the Convento do Espinheiro baked their own bread in a wood-fired oven. It will be possible to relive those times with the Chef who, next to the oven, now restored, transmits to the participants the ancestral knowledge of the art of kneading the rustic wheat flour well. After kneading, it is time to place the dough in the oven. The Chef takes advantage of this time to take the participants to his aromatic garden where coriander, pennyroyal and the mythical Escorcioneira de Évora flourish.

It is inside the wood-burning stove of the Cozinha Conventual, a small but beautiful Manueline example covered by a robust barrel vault, where the Chef found the ideal space to share decades of experience dedicated to Alentejo Gastronomy. The participants, equipped with fresh ingredients, including aromatic herbs grown in the monastery garden, embark on a journey of flavours in which they themselves prepare ancient home-made recipes under the guidance of the Chef. The reward is given in the form of knowledge, which will one day allow them to “perhaps” share with their friends what they learned here about the delicious Cuisine of Ganhões.

The abundance of sugar from the 16th century onwards, the bonuses that the convents received for renting their farms (e.g. eggs, cereals, etc.) in addition to the infinite patience and creativity of the devout nuns, constituted the origin of a delicious recipe for Conventual Sweets that has survived through time until today. The old kitchen of the Convento do Espinheiro is the place chosen to create these delicious creations by the hand of our Chef, in a workshop full of flavours and... calories.

In the old Gothic cistern, enjoy a chat over wine with our Sommelier.

Under our thousand-year-old olive tree (1099 years old) we will discover the mythical, biblical, romantic and historical, “the oil always comes to the surface”. This precious “gold” has always been present in the corners of our daily life: in the lamp of the poor and in the candlestick of the rich, on the frugal table of the peasant and in the solemn temples of ancient cults…

Take advantage of our olive groves and gardens to develop this radical activity…