Baixo Alentejo
Beja's must-see attraction is set in a 15th-century Franciscan convent and the backdrop to an unlikely romance between a nun and soldier that inspired…
Must-see attractions in Baixo Alentejo
Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana
Mértola
Created in 1995, this zone of hills, plains and deep valleys around Serpa and Mértola shelters the Rio Guadiana, one of Portugal’s largest and most…
Mértola
Mértola’s striking parish church – square, flat-faced and topped with whimsical little conical decorations – is known because in a former incarnation it…
Mértola
Above the parish church looms Mértola’s fortified castle, most of which dates from the 13th century. It was built upon Moorish foundations next to an…
Mértola
This site contains the ruins of what was once a thriving Islamic neighbourhood. Some 20 dwellings were here, each with a classic Mediterranean layout – a…
Baixo Alentejo
The lovely, shady Jardim Dr Santiago, at the eastern end of Praça Sacadura Cabral, is a delightful place. There are good views, a bandstand and shady,…
Baixo Alentejo
The castle offers fabulous views across the countryside. One of the towers is the last remnant of a Moorish fortress. Rebuilt by Dom Dinis in the 13th…
Mértola
Next to the alcáçova (citadel), this interpretation centre is an accurately sized replica of an Islamic residence dating from the 12th century. Key…
Baixo Alentejo
A small one-of-a-kind jewellery museum dedicated to the fascinating works of the avant-garde artist Alberto Gordillo. On display are around 50 pieces,…
Núcleo Museológico da Rua do Sembrano
Baixo Alentejo
This modern museum contains more than meets the eye – the exhibition is underfoot and displayed through a glass floor. Iron Age finds were discovered here…
Baixo Alentejo
Under construction at time of research, this new museum will house some of the great archaeological finds unearthed in Beja in recent years. Pieces date…
Baixo Alentejo
No traditional rural trade is overlooked in this exquisite exploration of Alentejan life. Occupying the former town market (in use from 1887 to 1986), the…
Baixo Alentejo
Found just beyond the castle, the unusual Visigothic museum is housed in the former Igreja de Santo Amaro, parts of which date from the early 6th century,…
Baixo Alentejo
Dating from the 14th century, this imposing castle affords long views from the battlements: flat plains, the aqueduct, town walls, rooftops and orange…
Baixo Alentejo
The Watch Museum houses an amazing collection of watches and clocks – shared with its sister museum in Évora, dating from a 1630 Edward East clock to the…
Baixo Alentejo
Opposite the Lagar de Varas do Fojo, the Jardim das Oliveiras is home to various varieties of olive trees and herbs, and reflective space. It’s dedicated…
Mértola
This museum, north of the old town, features a partly reconstructed line of 6th-century Roman columns and poignant funerary stones, some of which are…
Mértola
The enchanting Casa Romana is located in the cellar of the câmara municipal (town hall). The clever display allows visitors to walk ‘through’ the…
Baixo Alentejo
Tucked down a narrow lane off Praça da República, this small cultural space is dedicated to the rich folksinging traditions that grew up in the…
Mértola
Inside the castle walls, this prominent tower has exhibitions related to the history of Mértola, with several worthwhile (if dramatically scored) videos…
Cine Teatro da Mina de São Domingos
Mértola
In São Domingos, on the main road leading into town, this place provides a suitable introduction to life during the peak of the mining industry days…
Mértola
This is the administrative heart of the old town, a picturesque square lined with orange trees, with the câmara municipal (town hall) at its western end…
Baixo Alentejo
Dom Dinis built this castle on Roman foundations in the late 13th century. You can climb up the Torre de Menagem for fine views over the roofs of town…
Mértola
This little clock tower, topped with a stork’s nest and overlooking the Rio Guadiana, is northeast of Largo Luís de Camões. Alongside it is a municipal…
Baixo Alentejo
With a system of production similar to that of Roman times, an oil press here re-creates the oil-pressing factory that functioned on this spot between…
Baixo Alentejo
Set in a former factory, this museum houses a beautiful collection of ancient Roman oil lamps from the 1st century that were found in the region. You can…
Baixo Alentejo
The old Moorish quarter lies at the western end of Praça Sacadura Cabral. It’s a well-preserved, tight cluster of narrow, cobbled lanes and white terraced…
Mértola
At the southern end of the old town, the Islamic Museum is a small but dramatic display of inscribed funerary stones, jewellery, pots and jugs from the…
Mértola
At the river’s edge, near its confluence with the Ribeira de Oeiras, is the ruined, Roman-era Torre do Rio, which once guarded the vital port.
Baixo Alentejo
In the village centre, this beautifully laid out museum showcases elements of local cultural and agricultural practices.
Baixo Alentejo
The impressive remains of an 11th-century aqueduct run along the western side of the town walls (follow Rua dos Arcos).
Baixo Alentejo
The view from the Torre de Menagem is a Beja highlight, and a great way to get your bearings over the city.
Baixo Alentejo
This renovated attractive town square with a pelourinho (stone pillory) is the historic heart of the old city. Dominating the square is the 16th-century…
Baixo Alentejo
The 18th-century Royal Basilica features extraordinary gilded woodcarvings and a set of tiled panels depicting the 12th-century Battle of Ourique. Its…
Baixo Alentejo
This 16th-century church has a remarkable Manueline portal. Set against the plain facade, it is a twisting, flamboyant bit of decoration, with carvings of…
Baixo Alentejo
Just off Largo da Mouraria, the Casa dos Poços has a pocket collection of Moorish ceramics and other remains, such as carved stone inscriptions and a 14th…
Baixo Alentejo
Cheese lovers should make a pilgrimage to this small factory in the town centre, where if you’re lucky you might see the cheese producers in action. Call…
Mértola
Housed in the former Misericórdia church, the Museu de Arte Sacra exhibits religious statuettes from the 16th to 18th centuries and several impressive…
Baixo Alentejo
At the southern end of the aqueduct is a huge 17th-century wheel pump (aka noria), once used for pumping water to the nearby Palácio dos Condes de Ficalho.
Mértola
Next to the turismo, this small two-room house shows what living conditions were like for Mértolans up until fairly recent times (the 1970s).
