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Comporta belongs to Alentejo, a splendid region steeped in tradition, lying between the Tagus and the Algarve. For hundreds of years, the Alentejo was a battleground, first against the Moors, then against a succession of Spanish invaders. The area was home to castles and fortified towns, and many defensive structures developed to counter the invaders.
However, the successive occupations have left their mark on the architecture and structure of the towns and villages: the narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses that characterise many small towns in the Alentejo are remnants of the Moorish period.
The Alentejo has a rich heritage of arts and crafts, the result of know-how and traditions handed down from generation to generation. During the Moorish occupation, craft activities flourished, such as pottery and tile decoration (azulejos), jewellery making, basketry and weaving. Another important craft was leatherwork for the manufacture of saddles, bags, shoes and boots. Despite new innovations and mechanisation, tanneries still remain, and retain an authentic medieval character to complement its working methods. Home to more than 30% of the world's natural cork production, Alentejo also produces all kinds of everyday objects and decorations made of cork.
You can visit shops, craft fairs or even try to make your very own item. Some villages have become famous over the years for their artisanal skills:
- Arraiolos for its embroidered carpets
- Nisa for its red clay pottery and embroidery
- Monsaraz for its hand-woven blankets
- Evora for its cork products
- Sao Pedro do Corval for its ornamental ceramic goods
- Terrugem and Nossa Senhora de Machede for its leather workshops
During your stay in the region, you may have the opportunity to discover an authentic musical tradition that is unique in the world: the Cante Alentejano, recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2014.
Sung in chorus by groups of men and women, without the use of musical instruments, the Cante Alentejano is a popular demonstration characteristic of the different municipalities of the district of Beja, Baixo Alentejo. The municipality of Serpa, in collaboration with the Alentejo Regional Tourism Authority, is responsible for the initiative being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Singing is kept alive by choirs, some of which have been in existence for over a century, in informal contexts, whether at work in the fields or at a festival. The lyrics are usually about feelings and everyday life. It is not exclusive to any social class, but is generally associated with the rural classes, in a region where the industrialisation of agriculture and mining has been underway since the end of the 19th century. The first choral group appeared in 1926, affiliated to the workers of the São Domingos Mines; a second group followed in Serpa in 1927.
You can check in the local tourist offices to see if there are any performances, but the singing can appear spontaneously in any tavern or leisure association, on any day in a moment of leisure or after work. A visit to the Museu do Cante in Serpa is also possible.
