Once a city of convents, there were 7 in activity. District capital steeped in history. Land where the famous poet, writer and teacher José Régio lived most of his life, where he will have the opportunity to visit his José Régio House-Museum. The Castle and fortress of Portalegre, fortified and rebuilt by D. Dinis until the beginning of the 14th century, consists of 3 towers and still has part of its original walls. The North Tower, the largest and the most important for the city and the West Tower are connected by one of the walls. The Keep is separated by Rua do Castelo. It is possible to easily identify the medieval urban fence, formerly made up of 12 towers and 8 doors of which only 3 remain, the Porta de Alegrete, very close to the Praça da República, the Porta do Crato or Arco do Bispo and the Porta da Devesa by where Rua 5 de Outubro passes, giving rise to Rua Luiz de Camões. The Cathedral of Portalegre, mostly in the Renaissance and also Baroque style, is undoubtedly a visit point, is present in the Route of the Cathedrals. Its construction started and, in 1556 and it was finished about 50 years later. As a city of convents, you can visit the Convent of São Francisco, Convento de Santa Clara and the Monastery of São Bernardo although there is still the Convent of Santo António, Convento de Santo Agostinho, Colégio de São Sebastião and Convento de São Brás. Fábrica Robinson, a cork factory, owned in the 19th century by Sociedade Corticeira Robinson Bros, Lda became the largest employer in Portalegre, closed in 2009 after great difficulties after the 25th of April and thereafter due to the weight of the years of the facilities and equipment that lacked the capacity for renewal and innovation. Currently you can visit the Museum Center of the Robinson Factory (Robinson Museum). The wool industry was also very important for the economy of this city between the years 1775 to 1800, decaying in the second half of the 19th century. One of the main buildings in the industry was the building of the Royal Wool Factory of Portalegre where today is the Municipality of Portalegre. In 1947 the Portalegre Tapestry Manufacture was founded by Roseta Fino. Guy Fino and Manuel Celestino Peixeiro were the creators of the first tapestry in Portalegre, considered the best in the world by the artist Jean Lurçat. Today you can visit the Portalegre Tapestry Museum - Guy Fino. Also don't miss the Municipal Museum of Portalegre, a repository of arts, treasures and histories of the city. Of events, Baja Portalegre stands out, one of the main national competitions of TT, the Conventual and Traditional Confectionery Fair, usually held at the Convent of Santa Clara or Convento de São Bernardo where you can taste the various sweets and liqueurs of Alentejo origin .
