Knitting with Amanda Jones in the Alentejo, Portugal

Sunday 4 May - Sunday 11 May 2025

Come away with us in spring 2025 to the beautiful and unspoilt Alentejo region of Portugal for a knitting retreat with expert knitter and tutor Amanda Jones.

Our 7-night retreat begins in Lisbon and the first stop on our trip is to Retrosaria Rosa Pomar, a gorgeous store selling a wide variety of Portuguese yarn, where you’ll purchase what you need for your knitting project. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced knitter you will be in safe hands with Amanda who’ll be with us throughout the trip to give you knitting guidance to ensure you get the most out of your learning experience. 

After lunch we head out by coach to Casa Az-Zagal,  a beautifully restored ancient manor house located in the small village of Casa Branca 90 minutes west of Lisbon. With its 13 perfect bedrooms, lovely spaces both inside and out to knit, a charming covered outdoor terrace and saltwater swimming pool, this fully renovated property will be our exclusive home for the week. 

Ahead of the retreat Amanda will create an exclusive pattern for you to knit during the week which will be adaptable to suit different levels of knitter - or you can bring your own pattern with you if you prefer.  The retreat will include at least 4 full-days’ tuition with Amanda aimed at developing your knitting skills but there will be further opportunities to knit so we recommend you have your knitting project with you at all times!

The Portuguese are proud of their artisan traditions and the Alentejo region is famous for cork products,  olive oil, wine and marble production, rustic handmade pottery, hand-loomed blankets and cross-stitched carpets.  On our first excursion to Évora, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Portugal and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986,  you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the local sites led by guide Telma, lunch in a super restaurant opposite the ruins of a Roman temple followed by an afternoon exploring the interesting artisanal shops and sites. 

Our second excursion is to Estremoz, one of the so-called ‘white cities’ of the Alentejo region thanks to an abundance of local marble. We’ll visit the vibrant Saturday morning flea market and the Museum Berardo, the tile museum which houses the largest and most important private collection of handmade tiles dating from the 13th-21st centuries. After lunch at Casa da Gadanha, a well known restaurant serving traditional ingredients prepared with a contemporary twist, we’ll call in at Estremoz Castle on the way home. 

Most of our meals will be taken at home and you’ll have the chance to sample chef Hugo Bernardo’s carefully selected local products and delicious homemade cuisine of regional flavours. You’ll enjoy melt-in-your-mouth pastries, seafood, game, and the famous black pork made from pigs that graze on acorns. 

We hope you can join us for what will be a wonderful blend of sightseeing, entertainment, gourmet meals and of course knitting. 

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