Portuguese Cooking School

Flavours of Alentejo in the Dark Sky® Alqueva territory

In Alentejo, time seems to move at a different rhythm.

The landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see, dotted with cork oak trees, vineyards and small white-stone villages that hold centuries of stories. The silence of the plains is only broken by the gentle wind crossing the fields or the distant sound of glasses clinking around a table where gastronomy continues to be celebrated as a ritual of sharing.

It is within this authentic landscape that Dark Sky® Alqueva can be found, the first destination in the world certified as a Starlight Tourism Destination, and today internationally recognised as one of the best places in Europe to experience the night sky.

But Dark Sky® Alqueva is much more than a destination for observing the cosmos.

During the day, it reveals itself as a land of culture, landscapes and flavours, where Alentejo gastronomy tells ancient stories shaped by local produce, techniques passed down through generations and a genuine hospitality that turns every meal into a moment of celebration.

It is within this spirit that the experience of the Portuguese Cooking School, created by Sofia Vieira, was born inviting visitors to discover Portugal through its cuisine, culture and the landscapes that have shaped the identity of this remarkable region.

Portuguese Cooking School Experiences

1. Cooking to understand the territory

Just a few minutes from the historic centre of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage city and a gateway to the Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, visitors are welcomed into a warm and familiar environment where the kitchen becomes a place of discovery.

Here, ingredients tell stories.

Olive oil reveals the tradition of Alentejo olive groves.
Bread recalls ancient rural practices.
Aromatic herbs and local wines evoke the landscape that stretches beyond the kitchen.

Over approximately two and a half hours, participants prepare a traditional Alentejo menu, learning culinary techniques and discovering the secrets of regional gastronomy.

The experience includes:

• Hands-on Portuguese cooking class
• Preparation of a traditional menu (starters, fish, meat and dessert)
• Full meal prepared by the participants
• Carefully selected regional wines
• Local and seasonal ingredients

More than a cooking class, this is a sensory and cultural experience, where cooking becomes a way to understand the territory.

As the day draws to a close and the Alentejo plains prepare for the night, the experience takes on a new dimension. After sharing the meal around the table, many visitors continue their journey across the Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, where the night sky reveals extraordinary depth and the silence of the landscape intensifies the sense of connection with the universe.

Duration: approximately 2h30
Schedule: lunch (11:00) or dinner (18:00)

Price per person

• 2–5 participants: 180 € + VAT/ person
• 6–9 participants: 170 € + VAT/ person
• Larger groups: upon request

2. Food • Wine • Culture Experience

An immersion into Alentejo

For those wishing to discover Alentejo more deeply, the Portuguese Cooking School offers immersive programmes that reveal the essence of the region through gastronomy, culture and landscape.

These programmes allow visitors to explore the Dark Sky® Alqueva territory at the rhythm of Alentejo itself with days dedicated to heritage discovery and nights inviting contemplation of the sky.

Each experience is designed to reveal the authenticity of the territory: visits to local producers, wine tastings, encounters with artisan traditions and cooking classes that revive traditional Portuguese recipes.

3. Food • Wine • Culture Programme | 4 days

An immersive experience combining gastronomy, heritage and landscape.

Over four days, visitors explore some of the most emblematic locations in Alentejo, discovering the historical heritage and gastronomic richness of the region.

Includes

• Transfer Lisbon – Évora – Lisbon
• 3 cooking classes with meals and wines
• Traditional lunches included
• Alentejo wine tastings
• Visits to Monsaraz, Estremoz and Vila Viçosa
• Visits to wineries and local producers
• Cultural and gastronomic experiences including a visit to the Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory

Price: €2,135 per person (minimum 2 participants)

4. Food • Wine • Culture Programme | 6 days

A deeper journey into the identity of Alentejo.

Over six days, visitors explore the region through gastronomy, heritage and unique landscapes, discovering how Alentejo culture is shaped by the relationship between land, tradition and time.

Includes

• Transfer Lisbon – Évora – Lisbon
• 5 cooking classes with meals and wines
• Several traditional meals included
• Wine tastings
• Cultural visits to Évora, Monsaraz, Estremoz and Vila Viçosa
• Exploration of Alentejo’s historical and megalithic heritage including a visit to the Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory
• Gastronomic experiences with local products

Price: €2,775 per person (minimum 2 participants)

Accompanying participants who do not attend the cooking classes receive a €200 discount.

A territory between earth and cosmos

At Dark Sky® Alqueva, every moment invites discovery.

During the day, the territory reveals serene landscapes, ancient heritage, internationally recognised wines and a gastronomy deeply connected to the land.

At night, the region becomes one of the most privileged places in the world to contemplate the night sky, a natural heritage that invites observation, reflection and discovery of the universe.

It is this harmony between land, culture and cosmos that makes Dark Sky® Alqueva a truly unique destination.

A place where every experience, from cuisine to wine, from landscape to astronomy, creates unforgettable memories and reveals Alentejo in its most authentic form.

Website: www.portuguesecookingschool.com

Email: sofia.guide.evora@gmail.com

T./WhatsApp +351927500244