Beja between history, nature and regional culture

A rocky promontory between the waters of the Guadiana and the banks of the Oeiras gives Mértola’s historic old town its distinctive setting. The archaeological remains there document human settlement from the Iron Age through Roman times and Late Antiquity to the Islamic period and more recent and contemporary times.

History in Mértola and Beja

Mértola’s historic centre preserves old walls, the Torre do Rio, the castle, the main church and the citadel. The castle’s history also goes back a long way: in the 14th century, it was the national headquarters of the Order of Santiago. Archaeological research has also shown that an Islamic residential quarter stood within the area later fortified in the 11th century. The location and surviving buildings offer several historical points of reference, connected by the area’s long history of settlement.

In Beja, the castle was rebuilt in 1310 by King Denis on the foundations of a Roman fortification. The Museu Regional Rainha D. Leonor adds to this view of the past with Roman archaeology, medieval epigraphy and heraldry, as well as collections spanning the period from the Bronze Age to the present day. The museum also explores the literary history of the “Lettres Portugaises”, associated with Mariana Alcoforado.

Music, museums and regional traditions

Cante Alentejano has been UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2014. This musical tradition is characteristic of several municipalities in the Beja district: groups of women and men sing together in a choir, without instrumental accompaniment. In Serpa, the Museu do Cante is dedicated to this tradition; it opened in the summer of 2021. If you are planning a visit, check the current opening hours. Serpa is also home to the Museu do Relógio, housed in the former Mosteirinho convent; it is considered unique of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula.

Vidigueira brings together several historical and culinary themes. In 1519, King Manuel I granted Vasco da Gama the title of Count of Vidigueira. Vidigueira is also a wine region with a protected designation of origin, with a documented winemaking tradition dating back to the 15th century. Regional sweets from Beja include Trouxas-de-ovos, Pastéis de Santa Clara, Tosquiados and Queijadas de requeijão.

Landscapes and trails

Across the plains of the Beja district, the Castro Verde Biosphere Reserve encompasses open cereal fields, fallow land, natural grasslands and fields of legumes. The Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina offers a different kind of landscape: erosion has shaped its steep coastal cliffs into a variety of forms and colours. The natural park is home to otters in a marine habitat, and white storks nest on the sea cliffs. Its beaches are popular with surfers and range from long sandy stretches to smaller coves between cliffs and rocks.

In Aljustrel, a 12-kilometre circular walking route passes through the mining town along urban paths, wooden boardwalks and rural trails. The Parque Mineiro de Aljustrel features headframes, Roman shafts and the Mine Gallery at Level 30. If you are planning a guided tour, check the current booking conditions in advance. A much longer option is the Caminho Histórico of the Rota Vicentina: this rural route covers 13 stages and 263 kilometres and has a history spanning several centuries.

Cyclists will also find a clearly described network: the official Rota Vicentina cycling network in the Municipality of Odemira comprises 38 mountain biking and gravel routes, organised into five hubs and six access points. This makes it easy to compare the different scales of routes—from a walk through a mining town to a multi-day trail or a cycling network with numerous routes.

Water and outdoor experiences

The Estação Náutica de Odemira comprises three nautical centres along the Mira: in Vila Nova de Milfontes, in Odemira and at the Santa Clara dam. Near Santa Clara-a-Velha, the Praia Fluvial de Santa Clara river beach offers a swimming area with a floating platform and various water sports. The Estação Náutica de Moura–Alqueva includes a central leisure platform, a river beach and a motorhome park.

The Jardim Gago Coutinho e Sacadura Cabral in Beja is a good place for walks, watching birds of prey and taking a boat trip on the lake among the swans. The various places and activities offer different focal points: history and museums, walking and cycling routes, and experiences by the water can all be included in your travel plans according to your interests.

Discover more destinations: Corte Sines, Beja, Albernoa, Corte Do Pinto, Cuba, Curvatos, Camachos, Monte Da Carocha, Ferreira Do Alentejo, Castro Verde, Cabeça Gorda, Alvito, Ourique, Vila Ruiva, Vidigueira, Aljustrel, Vale De Vargo, Luzianes, Barrancos, Mértola, Almodôvar, Zambujeira Do Mar, Cuba, Beja, Troviscais, Ervidel, Pias, Colos, São Luís, Moita, Évora, Serpa, Moura, Santa Cruz, Odemira, Cavaleiro, Corte Do Pinto.

Back to the main travel overview: Portugal.