In the Alentejo, chimneys shape the skyline and define the silhouette of its villages.
Traditionally large, they were once the heart of the home—used for smoking pork (linguiça and chouriço) and, in winter, gathering the family around the open fire for warmth.
With the decline of home butchery traditions and the modernisation of houses, chimneys grew smaller, no longer a reflection of their owner’s social status. Yet, as symbols of vernacular architecture, they still reach towards the sky, adding character and charm to the Alentejo landscape.
