Almendres Cromlech

The megalithic site of Almendres, one of the earliest public monuments of humanity, constitutes the greatest set of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula and certainly one of the most important in Europe.

This megalithic monument was initially composed by more than one hundred monoliths.
Its archaeological research allowed the detection of several construction periods through the Neolithic Period (5000 - 4000b.C.) until it got the look similar to what is nowadays presented.

Ninety two menhirs of different sizes and forms currently form two grounds that were built oriented to different equinox directions.
Around a dozen monoliths is decorated with carved drawings and relief.
This was a monument with religious purposes and, probably, an astronomical observatory.

The monument is located in the Almendres Estate, in the lovely Alentejo region.