Portugal’s longest road, the N2 runs from Chaves, just below the northern border of the country, all the way to Faro on the south coast. Given that it’s Portugal’s most epic road trip, the N2 is often refered to as the Portuguese Route 66.
Built in 1945, the Estrada Nacional 2 (EN2) was once the main thoroughfare through the centre of Portugal, connecting typical villages, ancient towns and cities. Its 739 kilometres (453 miles) snake through an ever-changing landscape of mountains, plains, forests, cork oak plantations, vineyards, rocky highlands, verdant valleys and vast reservoirs.
N2 KM 550-552: Alcácovas
This typical Alentejo village is famous for its cowbells, called chocalhos in Portuguese. In 2015, these handmade metal bells, which give off a wonderful soft clang, were classified by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent safeguarding as there are very few surviving craftspeople. There is a small museum dedicated to the craft on Rua da Esperança.