Property buyers who love Portugal should take a good hard look at one region slightly off the tourist beaten track this area is the Alentejo region.

A recent visit to this region with its historic towns, miles and miles of olive tree clad hills impressed me so much I wondered why more overseas buyers had not sought a home in the area.

Portugal's Algarve region has been the country's major summer hotspot for years, and it continues to attract visitors from near and far. New developments and infrastructure improvements are drawing more interest from tourists and investors as the region looks to continue as the most popular destination in the country for the future.

Alentejo occupies the south central part of the country and stretches from the Tagus River in the north to just above the Algarve in the south. It borders Spain on the east, the Lisbon metro area in the west and has a stretch of mostly pristine beaches along the southwest of the region. There are only a couple of cities of any major size: Ever is the region's capital in the north central part of the region, Beja in the middle and Sines along the coast.

The climate of this region is the warmest in the country. It is nearly as far south as the Algarve, but doesn't have much of the moderating coastal weather. The small stretch along the coast is one of the most pristine areas of the country, thought there are a couple of resorts there. Towards the northeast the gently rolling countryside turns into granite hills and valleys as you approach the Spanish border, which is a bit cooler than the rest of the region.

The regions economy is based mostly on farming and agriculture. Sines, which is technically in the Setubal region, is at the border of the Costa Verde and Alentejo. It is a largely industrial town, with oil refineries and a busy port. Tourism is minimal in this part of the country, but the ancient ruins do bring visitors. There are plenty of Roman era structures, castles and ancient megaliths throughout the region. Ever, the capital of Alentejo, has a population of 55,000 and is the largest city in the region. It is considered one of the most liveable cities in the country, with a major university, historical sites and a laid back lifestyle. It is 130 kilometers to the east of Lisbon and has a small airport, as well as train and bus service to the capital.

One resort of note in the Alentejo region is The Gizo Estate situated in Cuba a stunning countryside resort with designer style villas sitting on the hills of Cuba in Alentejo. The Gizo Estate has a riding centre where the owners and "horse lovers" can make use of the riding school or just go for a ride within the 114 ha of the estate

There are country homes, seaside resorts and villas of all sizes for those who want to live in this part of Portugal. There is also plenty of property, ranging from small building lots to ruins that can be built upon or large tracts. Whatever you want, this part of the country has something to offer.

Travel to this area of Portugal can be quick and easy, or it can take a little more time. It just depends where you are going. For the northern parts of the region, Lisbon is the closest airport, but in the southern area the airport at Faro is closer. From Lisbon, the A6 auto route goes east to Ever and over to the Spanish border. The A2 heads out of Lisbon south, paralleling the coast and down to the Algarve.

All in all Alentejo region feels like the real Portugal and just ripe for investment