Under the patronage of the Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia (MoT) and TOURISE 2025, Shaza Hotels has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for four new projects – Shaza Riyadh Stables Resort, Mysk Residences in Riyadh and Mysk Al Haramain Hotels – 3 & 4 in Makkah – during the inaugural TOURISE 2025 summit, held from 11 to 13 November 2025 in Riyadh.

Yesterday at the TOURISE Global Summit 2025 in Riyadh, Mantis – Accor’s conservation-focused hospitality brand – announced the signing of Basiqat by Mantis, an eco-luxury resort in Al Uyaynah, 40 minutes from central Riyadh, developed by Design & Build in partnership with GIB Capital and the Tourism Development Fund (TDF).

There’s a quiet rhythm to Alentejo – a pulse that beats slower than the rest of Portugal. It’s a land of golden plains and whitewashed villages, where time stretches like the endless horizon and the scent of cork and wild herbs lingers in the air. Travelers often rush past on their way from Lisbon to the Algarve, but those who pause here soon discover that Alentejo is not a region to be hurried through – it’s a place to be felt, savoured, and remembered.

Stretching from the banks of the Tagus River down to the rugged cliffs of the southwestern coast, Alentejo covers nearly a third of Portugal’s landmass, yet it remains one of Europe’s least populated regions. The first thing that strikes you is the space – vast, sun-drenched fields of wheat and wildflowers that roll toward distant olive groves. Scattered across the plains are clusters of cork oaks, their trunks scarred from harvest, symbols of an ancient rural economy that still sustains local life.

Alentejo is one of Portugal’s most important wine regions, producing full-bodied reds and surprisingly elegant whites. Visit a winery such as Fita Preta near Evora or Herdade dos Grous near Beja, which also has livestock and olive trees. Wine tastings here often come with olive oil samplings, cured meats, and the kind of conversation that lasts well into the afternoon.

Évora

At the heart of Alentejo lies Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage city that feels like an open-air museum of Portuguese history. Surrounded by medieval walls, Évora’s cobblestone lanes twist through centuries of architecture – Roman temples, Moorish courtyards, Gothic cathedrals, and whitewashed townhouses adorned with azulejos tiles.

At its heart stands the Praça do Giraldo, Évora’s main square. Once the site of executions during the Inquisition, it now hums with café chatter and the scent of strong Portuguese espresso. The square’s arcaded buildings glow in soft limestone hues, while a 16th-century fountain, topped with a cross, keeps watch over the city’s comings and goings.

Perched on a small hill overlooking the old town is the Templo Romano, its tall Corinthian columns, carved from granite and capped with marble, rise against the Alentejo sky. This ancient monument, dating from the 1st century AD, survived invasions, earthquakes, and even centuries of neglect – thanks, ironically, to being incorporated into a medieval slaughterhouse.

Just steps away, the eerie Capela dos Ossos (“Chapel of Bones”) offers a haunting reminder of mortality – its walls lined with thousands of human skulls and bones. Hidden inside the Church of São Francisco, this macabre masterpiece was built by Franciscan monks in the 16th century as a meditation on mortality. Above the entrance, a chilling inscription reads: “We bones that are here, await yours.”

Monsaraz

Beyond Évora, the countryside unfolds into a patchwork of sleepy villages, each one a postcard of whitewashed houses trimmed with cobalt-blue or mustard-yellow paint. Monsaraz, perched high above the Guadiana River near the Spanish border, is among the most enchanting. Inside its medieval walls, cobblestone alleys wind past craft shops and tiny taverns, all overlooking the glittering waters of the Alqueva Reservoir, Europe’s largest artificial lake. At night, Monsaraz becomes a stargazer’s paradise, part of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, one of the world’s first certified starlight tourism destinations.

Beja

Beja is the capital of Lower Alentejo and its story begins long before Portugal existed as a nation. Founded by the Romans as Pax Julia in the first century BC, it was named to commemorate peace between Julius Caesar and local tribes. The city later passed through the hands of the Visigoths and Moors, each leaving traces in its architecture and culture. Narrow lanes winding past whitewashed houses, adorned with wrought-iron balconies and bursts of bougainvillea.

At the heart of Beja stands the Castelo de Beja, whose imposing keep rises proudly above the city. Built in the 13th century under King Dinis, the tower is one of Portugal’s finest examples of Gothic military architecture. Climb its spiral staircase to the top, and you’re rewarded with sweeping views of the Alentejo plain. Below, red-tiled roofs cluster around cobbled streets, while the white spire of the cathedral glimmers in the sunlight.

Next to the castle lies the Museu Regional de Beja, housed in the former Convento de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, a 15th-century convent of serene beauty. Its cloisters, lined with blue-and-white azulejos (tiles), whisper of quiet devotion. The museum’s treasures include Roman artefacts, sacred art, and delicate Moorish ceramics. But its most famous relics are the “Letters of a Portuguese Nun”, passionate love letters written in the 17th century by a young nun, Mariana Alcoforado, to a French officer.

VINIPAX

I time my visit to Beja to coincide with VINIPAX, the wine fair that brings together the southern Portuguese wine world in one lively venue. For three days, in October, the city becomes the heart of Iberian wine culture, offering tastings, workshops, and authentic Alentejo food.

This year, some 40 exhibitors and around 60 producers from Portugal and Spain are present with more than 350 wines to be tasted. What this means for visitors is a rich palette of styles: from luscious, generously-fruited Alentejo reds and warm, golden whites, to sharper, mineral-tinged Trás-os-Montes wines. It’s an excellent opportunity for both seasoned wine-lovers and the curious.

And there’s also food.  A large section called “Sul à Mesa” (“South at the Table”) highlights regional cuisine. Local chefs prepare dishes like porco preto (black pork), açorda alentejana (bread soup with garlic and coriander), and migas (fried breadcrumbs with pork). Small tasting portions pair beautifully with the wines. For something sweet, try sericaia (a soft cinnamon custard) with a splash of fortified Moscatel.

Despite its professional scope, Vinipax feels more like a village festival than a trade fair. Families stroll between stands, winemakers greet visitors like friends, and, by late afternoon, the fairgrounds come alive with live music and laughter. Groups of men burst into Cante Alentejano – the slow, polyphonic singing that rises like a prayer. Perfect to accompany a glass of full-bodied Alentejo red.

Factfile

GO: TAP Air Portugal flies direct to Lisbon from London Gatwick.

The Gatwick Express is the fastest way to the airport from central London.

INFO: Vinipax happens every autumn in Beja.

Visit Alentejo  has information about the region.

Visit Portugal has information about the country.

STAY: Mar de Ar Aqueduto  is a historic hotel in a beautiful colonial building in Evora.

EAT: Forno de Telha serves refined cuisine in Evora.

Adega 25 de Abril in Beja has excellent traditional dishes from Alentejo.

Herdade dos Grous is a winery that offers tasting and good food near Beja.

Fita Preta Winery offers tastings and fine cuisine near Evora.

The post  Guide to Alentejo, Portugal appeared first on The Travel Magazine.

“I don’t know whether to conquer the world or hug a stranger”. These were the parting words of someone who had just experienced a 30-minute session of infrared light sauna therapy.

Reassuring words, as I was feeling somewhat grumpy having braved inclement British weather to experience infrared sauna technology at the Sweat Lounge in Chiswick  – the only studio in London dedicated to this technology.

Infrared red light is naturally emitted by the sun, which is why everyone is happier on a sunny day. Unfortunately, it also emits harmful ultraviolet rays. Harnessing infrared technology as a feel-good therapy makes total sense, doesn’t it?

This light is scientifically proven to stimulate cellular energy production, help calm inflammation, ease anxiety, boost immunity, and support healthy, glowing skin by boosting collagen and elastin.

Unlike the traditional wet or dry sauna, infrared does not heat the air around you; the light waves penetrate deep into the body’s tissues and warm your body from its core – in other words, from the inside out. Ambient temperatures are lower than those of a traditional sauna, between 110°F and 135°F, making this a comfortably warm session, compared to the scorching temperatures of other saunas.

In my private suite, I climbed into a pod, lay down on my back, face and neck remained outside, shuffled into comfort, and settled into thirty minutes cocooned in warmth and a cosy silence. 

The Sweat Lounge is the brainchild of former tech executive Allison Huff-Ritchie. Like any other busy entrepreneur with young children and a hectic life, Allison was stressed. Lack of sleep, reeling from an agonising back injury during her second pregnancy and regularly working into the night, left her with high anxiety levels and, as is often the case, weight gain. 

She discovered infrared sauna technology when she lived in Austin, Texas. While showing me around, she rhapsodised about how it improved her sleep, stamina, muscular pain – including the kind that you get after exercising – and, after choosing a healthier diet, contributed to her extraordinary weight loss (a whopping 4 stones). Exposure to infrared light therapy, she said, speeds up calorie burning.

Allison made it her mission to open a chain of studios in London; this is her first. She is quick to point out that this is not a replacement for a sensible lifestyle; it is something you include in the mix for a regular boost. A motivated, calm mindset is the cornerstone for making any lasting changes, and infrared light can help achieve those goals far more effectively.

After my 30-minute session ended, I had a slight but not unpleasant headiness. I found my mood had lifted and felt a deep sense of well-being. Slowly getting dressed, I peered at my image in the mirror and couldn’t help noticing that my skin was actually glowing.

When I got back to reception, Allison was waiting for me with a glass of water and a beaming smile. She looked lovely, and for some reason, I wanted to hug her.

Address: 48 Chiswick High Road, W4 1SZ
Website: sweatlounge.co.uk

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