Dating from the 14th century, this imposing castle affords long views from the battlements: flat plains, the aqueduct, town walls, rooftops and orange trees, and the slow life of Serpa residents. Inside the walls, the free Museu Municipal de Arqueologia de Castelo houses a small collection of archaeological exhibitions, with information covering the Neolithic, Roman and Islamic presence in Serpa.
Castelo
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
15.26 MILES
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…
Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana
20.08 MILES
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…
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21.44 MILES
Mértola’s striking parish church – square, flat-faced and topped with whimsical little conical decorations – is known because in a former incarnation it…
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21.46 MILES
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…
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21.42 MILES
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…
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15.93 MILES
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,…
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15.88 MILES
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…
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21.43 MILES
Next to the alcáçova (citadel), this interpretation centre is an accurately sized replica of an Islamic residence dating from the 12th century. Key…
Nearby attractions
1. Palácio dos Condes de Ficalho
0.09 MILES
Just inside the old walls in the upper part of town, this ageing mansion dates from the 16th century, and remains in sore need of restoration.
0.11 MILES
The impressive remains of an 11th-century aqueduct run along the western side of the town walls (follow Rua dos Arcos).
0.11 MILES
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…
0.12 MILES
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…
0.13 MILES
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…
0.13 MILES
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…
0.18 MILES
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.
15.26 MILES
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…