Beja

The vast, sun-baked plains of the Alentejo, where you can drive for miles among wheat fields and olive trees without seeing a soul, also encompass many towns and villages which reflect the long Moorish occupation, with narrow streets, amazingly whitewashed houses and decorative tiles.

In some places, like Beja, history goes back even further, to the roman times, when it became a regional capital under Julius Caesar. The Moorish architecture is visible in the cobbled streets and houses of the old town, and a castle from the 13th century reminds us of the struggle to keep them away.

Another castle of equally Moorish origins and later rebuilt by the same king Dinis, in the 13th century, can be seen in Serpa. But the main attraction of this peaceful agricultural town, also known for its cheese, is the Porta de Beja - huge walls topped by an aqueduct, with a doorway marked by two towers which guard its entrance.
Serpa stands near the Spanish border and, as this region was once disputed both from the Moors and Spanish there are several watchtowers and fortresses along the hills.

The vineyards around Vidigueira announce its position as a centre of wine production. The Alentejo offers several fine quality wines.
Mértola is another place to visit: this small town is a sort of museum, exhibiting discoveries from different eras in separate areas, from the Phoenicians to the Romans and Moors.

Mesas do Castelinho (Almodôvar)
The archaeological place, that is known as Mesas do Castelinho, is located at the Monte Novo do Castelinho property. It’s a large fortified village culturally related to the called 2nd Age of Iron of the south of Portugal.
Actually, one can say that this place has been founded around the 4th or 5th centuries BC.

Castro Verde’s Mother-Church (Castro Verde)
The Castro Verde’s Mother-Church, the Royal Basilica, symbolises the D. Sebastião crossing through the village in 1573. The interior, covered with panels made of tiles from the 17th century, reveals us one of the most charismatic legends of the Portuguese history: the Ourique Battle.

Calvary Chapel/ Santa Maria Madalena Chapel/ Stone’s Church (Ferreira do Alentejo)
This is a small building with a very sui generis architecture. The temple, considered the ex-libris of Ferreira do Alentejo, was rebuilt on the 19th century.
The construction was based on a cylindrical form, and everywhere around you can find lots of little stones, representing the biblical version where the Hebrew threw stones to the Saviour, when He made the way of the Cross and the way of the Calvary.

Beja’s Castle (Beja)
When one arrives to Beja, the first thing to do is go up to the Castle and to it’s keep, symbol of the city, from where visitors can reach the horizon of the Alentejo plains. This medieval castle has the highest keep in all Portugal.

Pisões Roman Villa (Beja)
The Roman population left, until today, evidences of their presence, including the beautiful Roman Villa located at Pisões. It’s a complete villa, formed by the "urban villa" and organised around an interior yard delimited by columns.