Tourist Attractions in Beja, Portugal
The old town of Beja, the Roman Pax Julia (of which some remains survive: foundations of walls on the north side of the town and a gate on the south side), is commandingly perched on a hill in the fertile plain of Baixo Alentejo. It is the largest town in Alentejo after Évora and is chief town of the district and an important commercial center, especially for agricultural produce. In recent years a number of modern and purpose-built hotels have been built around the Old Town. More stylish accommodation is available at the pousada opened in 1994 in the Convento de Sao Francisco; this is one of the most beautiful state-run hotels in Portugal.
Townscape
Although the little town of Beja has no very remarkable sights to boast of its many fine old buildings and winding alleys lined with gleaming white houses, some of them with charming iron grilles, windows, doorways and covered arcades, make its old town well worth a visit on any tour of Portugal. The best place to rest after a sightseeing walk is the pretty little park or on the lawned area with a simple cafe on the Praça Diogo Fernandes. There are parking loting facilities in the center on the Largo dos Duques de Beja under tall trees near the convent.
Townscape
Although the little town of Beja has no very remarkable sights to boast of its many fine old buildings and winding alleys lined with gleaming white houses, some of them with charming iron grilles, windows, doorways and covered arcades, make its old town well worth a visit on any tour of Portugal. The best place to rest after a sightseeing walk is the pretty little park or on the lawned area with a simple cafe on the Praça Diogo Fernandes. There are parking loting facilities in the center on the Largo dos Duques de Beja under tall trees near the convent.
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Convent of the Conception
The 15th C Convent of the Conception stands on the Praça da Concaiçao, and contains the regional museum.
Capela de Santo Amaro
Near the Castelo, beyond the Roman Évora Gate, stands the early Romanesque church of Santo Amaro. This oldest church in the town now houses a Visigothic Museum.
Castelo
Past the Igreja da Misericórdia and above the town to the north is the massive Castle, built by King Dinis I about 1300 on the remains of a Roman fortress; it has a handsome crenellated tower, built partly of marble, from which there is a fine view; it is 40m/131ft tall, making it the highest castle tower in Portugal.
On the lower floors of the castle are a small chapel and a large room with magnificent stellar vaulting.
On the lower floors of the castle are a small chapel and a large room with magnificent stellar vaulting.
Hours
May 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
November 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Ermida de Santo André
The Ermida de Santo André lies Southwest of the town center, on the main road to Lisbon. It was founded in 1162 in thanksgiving for the recovery of the town from the Moors.
Igreja da Misericórdia
At the northwest end of the Praça da República stands the church of the Misericórdia, which was originally built by the Infante Dom Luís in 1550 as a market hall and was later converted, by the addition of a chapel, into a church with a very spacious portico. The original function of the building, with its nine bays of vaulting which are borne on columns, can still be recognized.
Military Museum of Lower Alentejo
In the inner courtyard of the Castelo is the Military Museum of Lower Alentejo.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Praça da República
Opposite the entrance to the Convento N.S. da Conceiçao cloisters an alley leads through the old town to the Praça da República, the focus of life in Beja and the site of a fine Manueline pelourinho (pillory column).
Santa Maria
Diagonally opposite the Convento N.S. da Conceiçao is the church of Santa Maria (13th C.). Its main facade is decorated with four small towers linked by Gothic arches.
Beja Surroundings
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Mertola, Portugal
Built at the site for the former Roman town of Mirtilis, Mértola is a picturesque old town with narrow alleys and a noticeable Moorish influence.
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Serpa, Portugal
A medieval castle stands above the walled town of Serpa, with its narrow lanes and white buildings.
Aljustrel, Portugal
(In Castro Verde, Portugal)
The busy little town of Aljustrel lies 23km/14mi north of Castro Verde (alt. 200m/655ft), with copper-mines, some of which have been worked since ancient times.
Aljustrel Tourist Office
Jardim Publico
7600-100 Aljustrel
P-7600-100 Aljustrel
Portugal
Jardim Publico
7600-100 Aljustrel
P-7600-100 Aljustrel
Portugal
Almodovar, Portugal
(In Castro Verde, Portugal)
Almôdôvar (alt. 289m/948ft; pop. 2,500), 21km/13mi south of Castro Verde, has a 17th C. Franciscan convent with a beautiful cloister, and a Gothic and Manueline parish church which are worth seeing.
Almodovar Tourist Office
Rua de Malpica , nº 2
7700-206 Almodôvar
Portugal
Rua de Malpica , nº 2
7700-206 Almodôvar
Portugal
Ferreira do Alentejo, Portugal
25km/15mi west of Beja lies the little town of Ferreira do Alentejo (alt. 141m/462ft; pop. 6,000) with a 16th C. parish church and the church of the Misericórdia with a 16th C. retable.
Ferreira do Alentejo Tourist Office
Av. Gago Coutinho e Sacadura Cabral
7900-551 Ferreira do Alentejo
P-7900-551 Ferreira do Alentejo
Portugal
Av. Gago Coutinho e Sacadura Cabral
7900-551 Ferreira do Alentejo
P-7900-551 Ferreira do Alentejo
Portugal
Ourique, Portugal
(In Castro Verde, Portugal)
Tradition has it that the battle of Ourique, when Afonso I Henriques won a decisive victory over the Moors in 1139, took place near the modest little village of Ourique, about 15km/9mi southwest of Castro Verde. The actual site of the battle is supposed to be Campo de Ourique, between Castro Verde and the village, although historians cast doubt on whether the battle actually happened so far south.
Attractions in Other Popular Destinations