All Saints' Fair and Dried Fruits

The Feira dos Santos e Frutos Secos of Alvito is one of the oldest traditions in the Alentejo, with roots dating back to 1295 — a heritage of more than seven centuries that the town keeps alive to this day. It takes place every year in the last days of October and on the first of November, when Alvito welcomes thousands of visitors from across the country. Over time, the Fair has established itself as an important commercial and cultural gathering. Its stalls offer traditional trade in dried fruits, clothing, farming tools and household goods, alongside a programme of cultural and recreational activities that, more recently, has also gained a musical dimension. It is this blend of commerce and conviviality that has sustained the Fair's prestige in the region throughout the centuries.

There are places that assert themselves slowly, with the discretion of those who know the value of what they hold — and Alvito is one of those places. Its past keeps ancient loyalties, from the time it belonged to the Lordship of the Templars to the pride of having once been its own municipality. The religious heritage is the visible heart of this parish, from its churches and chapels to the quiet retreat of small oratories. At the table, another of its riches reveals itself: rich olive oils, artisan cheeses, asparagus and catacuzes, and festive confectionery, such as queijinhos de hóstia and the celebrated bolo de chocolate de Alvito. A land that knew how to preserve what truly matters and that, with simplicity and honesty, continues to deserve to be known and loved.