Estremoz

Montemor-O-Novo, Arraiolos, Evora, Evoramonte, Estremoz, Vila Vicosa, Borba and Elvas are the hilltop castle towns forming a chain from Lisbon to the Spanish border. Estremoz is one of my favourite towns for two reasons - the view of the castle tower and walls from the autostrada:
and the fact it has one of the biggest main squares in the country:

Along one side of the square is the church above, along the other the old Convent (now a science museum), the Army barracks opposite the church and on the last side is a line of cafes perfect for having a beer in the shade on a hot day when you're bunking off a conference (more on that later):
Thats the barracks in the background. As is typical of the area there's marble everywhere - statues, tiles, mosaics, cobbles, fountains:
Estremoz is the first time I've been in a Portuguese theatre, while this one has renovated with unpolished marble (radical!) it still retains the gold trim and painted ceiling. The family name and portrait painted on their theatre box (as seen on the upper level of yesterdays photo) is typical of these town theatres which were mostly built in the late 1900s.