BEJA:. city ??of Baixo Alentejo, Portugal

Beja is a city located in the Alentejo region and sub-region of Baixo Alentejo, a place where the landscape is dominated by extensive agricultural plains. Beja is bordered to the north with the district of Évora, the east with Spain, south to the Algarve and west by the Atlantic Ocean and with the Setúbal district. The city of Beja is at a distance of 137 km from Lisbon and 63 km from Évora. The most important rivers of the district of Beja are the Mira River and the Guadiana river, with tributaries Enchoé, Colces and careers. The most important sets of the mountainous district of Beja are the mountains of Mendro, the peaks of Aronche, the mountain of Cercal and saw the Cauldron. The climate of the Beja district is Mediterranean, with annual average temperatures between 21º and 25º C.
The Beja district is divided into 14 municipalities, including the city of Beja. :

  1. Aljustrel
  2. Almodôvar
  3. Alvito
  4. Barrancos
  5. Castro Verde
  6. Cuba
  7. Ferreira do Alentejo
  8. Mértola
  9. Moura
  10. Odemira
  11. Ourique
  12. Serpa
  13. Vidigueira
  14. Beja, the city which includes 18 parishes
    1. Albernoa
    2. Baleizão
    3. Beringel
    4. Cabeça Gorda
    5. Mombeja
    6. Nossa Senhora das Neves
    7. Quintos
    8. Salvada
    9. Salvador
    10. Santa Clara do Louredo
    11. Santa Maria da Feira
    12. Santa Vitória
    13. Santiago Maior
    14. São Brissos
    15. São João Batista
    16. São Matias
    17. Trigaches
    18. Trindade

see the video with images of Beja

The town of Beja

The historic center of Beja is the heart of the city's principal attractions:

  • Republic Square: the square that corresponds to the political and administrative center of the city of Beja. During the Middle Ages and the Age of Discovery it was in this square that held festivals, bullfights and plays. The Republic Square has buildings like the Church of Mercy, the seat of the Lower Alentejo Regional Conservatory housed in a sixteenth-century palace, the finance service installed in a palace of the seventeenth century that served as former city jail and the Town Hall inaugurated in 1953
  • Largo de Santo Amaro : is the square where he ran the market of agrarian reform after the April 25, 1974, deserves due to the Church of Santo Amaro, which includes the Visigoth of Beja Regional Museum
  • Largo de São João : is the latest part of the historical center. Its main attractions the Centennial Club Bejense, the Cine-Teatro Pax Julia opened in 1928, a sculpture in the center of the square designed by Naomi Cruz and Lane's Tree Stump, a place that integrates the medieval town of Beja highlighting the gothic arch
  • Street Sembrano : this street Beja's main highlight the Museum Centre of Sembrano Street, where we can witness dated walls of the Iron Age, the Roman bath ruins and panels depicting modern tiles to the theme of water designed by the painter Rogério Ribeiro
  • Praça Diogo Fernandes : its main highlights of the Garden Bacalhau with modern iron sculpture in the center written by Jorge Vieira and dedicated to the Unknown Political Prisoner

Places to visit in Beja

  • House of Culture / Bedeteca: is a hosted space in the House of Culture that aims to stimulate the comic strip in the city, receiving the International Festival Designed during their months of May and June
  • Beja Castle: Castle Beja was built in the reign of D Afonso III and improved during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It stands out for having architectural features of the Gothic period, to have six towers, including the donjon, being the highest military tower in Portugal with about 40 meters high and 198 steps. The Castle of Beja offers the following services: tourist office, coffee shop and showroom
  • Convent of Nossa Senhora da Conceição : it is a convent which was built between 1460 and 1473. Of particular attention to the gilded chapel, the panels of Polycarp authored tile Oliveira Bernardes, the Chapter House and the "Port Mértola "
  • Convent of San Francisco: Currently works as hostel was once a convent that was built in the thirteenth century. Special mention to Chapel and Hall of Tombs
  • St. Andrew Chapel: was built due to a promise of D Sancho II on the conquest of the Moors Beja. Its main attractions the whitewashed walls with frescoes, the chapel, the wooden altarpiece and the paintings representing the Calvary of Christ and the Martyrdom of St. Andrew, the patron of the hermitage
  • Excavations of the Street Moeda : archaeological excavations that are being carried out in the street Moeda and whose main attractions the base of a building of the Iron Age, a Roman temple - possibly the largest Roman temple ever discovered in Portugal - houses Muslim era and a private house of the sixteenth century Currency
  • Hospital of Misericórdia : Hospital which was built in 1490 and donated to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia . Its highlights the dual nature ward, Gothic cloister, the chapel and the pharmacy
  • Church of Misericórdia : church that was built in the sixteenth century. The building was intended to be a municipal açouge, but was transformed into a church because of its magnificence. Its highlights the pulpit four boards with episodes from the life of Jesus Christ written by the painter António Nogueira. The church underwent restoration during the 1940s
  • Church of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres : church which was built in 1672. It is noteworthy to host one of the most important collections of religious art of Beja and the panels of figurative tiles in blue and white with episodes of Our Lady of life, Visitação de Santa Isabel , Holy Family, Our Lady with the Child Jesus, St. Joseph, Flight into Egypt and the side altars
  • Church of Santa Maria da Feira : it is the oldest religious temple of Beja, having been built during the Visigoth occupation. The church was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, it was rebuilt in the late eighteenth century. It is one of the best examples of Gothic Alentejo
  • Beja Regional Museum: Also known as Museum Rainha D Leonor , is housed in the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Conceição since 1927. The museum is divided into three structures:
    1. Museu Regional : integrates archaeological collections, paintings, ceramics, jewelery, sculpture, metrology - history of measuring instruments and weights - and hardware. It deserves special mention the collection José Umbelino Palma together to be part of the museum's estate
    2. Núcleo Visigótico : is the most important collection of the country's Visigoth period, making Beja the capital of Visigothic Art.
    3. Igreja de Santo Amaro : church that was built over a Roman and medieval necropolis in the sixteenth century. Its main highlights of the abacuses, the capitals and the central apse
  • Museum Centre of Sembrano Street: This core features archaeological excavations carried out during the 1980s and 1990. Its main attractions one made of clay wall of the Iron Age, a commercial establishment of the Roman era, a permanent exhibition of objects taken from excavations of all periods - from the Iron Age to the Contemporary Age and a tile panel to the building entrance to the theme of water and by the artist Rogério Ribeiro
  • Episcopal Museum of Beja
  • Museum Jorge Vieira: also known as House of Arts noteworthy by the set of 47 drawings and 52 sculptures donated by Jorge Vieira - Natural Portuguese artist of the twentieth century Beja
  • Beja Botanical Museum
  • City Park: is one of the largest green spaces in Beja. The garden includes various infrastructures, including a children's playground, a skate park and a café with terrace
  • See Beja Cathedral: church that was built in the sixteenth century. Its main attractions a set of screens designed by André Reinoso , the altarpieces of gilt and polychrome carvings and altar dedicated to the patron saint of Beja São Sezinando
  • Teatro Pax Julia: is a theater that opened in 1928 and renovated over time. Currently has an auditorium with capacity for 620 seats, a studio room with capacity for 120 spectators which take place regularly theater, festivals, cinema, exhibitions, gatherings, seminars and conferences
  • Aljustrel: is a Portuguese village in the district of Beja with about 4700 inhabitants. This town lies at an approximate distance of 40 km from Beja, being administratively organized into five parishes: Aljustrel, Ervidel, Messejana, Rio de Moinhos e São João de Negrilhos .
    The Aljustrel municipality's principal attractions Dam Roxo , Castle Aljustrel, Castro Mangancha , the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Castelo , the Mother Church, the Church of Santa Maria , the mines of Aljustrel and Faixa Piritosa , the power station, the public garden, the Archaeological Museum, the outdoor pool, and the Rural center of the Municipal Museum of Ervidel.
    The Aljustrel cuisine is a reflection of a simple and intense region of a company that works hard in the mines and fields against the lack of means of subsistence. Among others the following specialties: the gazpacho, beans with molhinhos , vegetable soup, tomato soup, fried fish
  • Almodovar: is a Portuguese village that is located in the district of Beja between the Serra do Caldeirão and the Alentejo plain with about 7500 inhabitants. Almodovar's principal products cork, honey, goat cheese and brandy wild arbutus. In Almodovar village there that highlight the Municipal Museum Severo Portela , the Museum of Escrita do Sudoeste , the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum Manuel Vicente Guerreiro , the archaeological site Mesas do Castelinho .
    The most important festivities of Almodovar are: the Medieval Fair held annually in April, the Fair of Arts and Culture ( FACAL ) held annually in June, the Fair Mushroom and Arbutus held annually in November.
  • Alqueva Dam: is a dam which is situated on the Guadiana River and was built with the purpose of producing energy, creating an irrigation system for the Alentejo and develop local agriculture. In the Alqueva dam is situated the largest artificial lake in Europe, site visitors can fish, hunt, carry out hiking, make riding horses, boat rides, balloon flights hot air, mountain biking and water sports.
    The Alqueva Dam spans the Portuguese municipalities of Alandroal, Moura, Mourão, Reguengos de Monsaraz e Portel - and the Spanish municipalities of Alconchel, Cheles, Olivenza and Villanueva del Fresno.
    In Alqueva worth visiting the Castle of Mourão, the Aldeia da Luz - a village that was partially submerged when the dam's inauguration in 2002, the Roman castle of the Blackboard, the village fortress of Monsaraz - to highlight the Monsaraz Nautical Center and the biennial festival " Monsaraz Museu Aberto ", the village of Campinho , the village of Amieira, the village of Estrela , the rental operator - the largest nautical infrastructure of the dam, the village of Alqueva, the village of Capelins, village Juromenha, village Granja, the village of Marmelar the village Mina de da Orada , the village of Monte Trigo , the village of Pedrógão , the village of Póvoa de São Miguel and the village of Telheiro .
    All riverside villages of Alqueva dam worth a visit.
  • Dam of Patos : it is a dam which is located approximately 20 km northwest of Beja Alvito in the county. Also called to the pond Patos , noteworthy for being one of the places with greater presence of ducks Baixo Alentejo. ideal place for the observation of these species
  • Pessegueiro Island: is an island that is located in the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina includes various services and infrastructure, such as: camping, bungalows, changing rooms with hot showers, bar with terrace, mini market and a playground. In Pessegueiro island is worth visiting the archaeological excavations with findings from the Roman period and the ruins of two forts of the sixteenth century - the date of Philip I of Portugal tried to build a link between aa island and the mainland
  • Mértola: is a Portuguese village that is situated near the border with Spain with approximately 2000 inhabitants. Mértola is the national capital of hunting, has 60 Tourist hunting areas, hunting Areas and Associative 64 2 Municipal hunting areas totaling 1279.40 km2, being a prime location for bird watching
    In Mertola there are four routes of birdwatching suggested by the City Council:
    1. Route 1: Mértola, the stronghold of the lesser Kestrel ( reduto do Peneireiro-das-Torres ), here you can see the stronghold of the lesser Kestrel ( reduto do Peneireiro-das-Torres ), a rare and endangered species
    2. Route 2: the territory of the old mine, can be seen the White-rumped swift ( andorinhão-cafre ), the rook grey-necked ( gralha-de-nuca-cinzenta ), the Iberian imperial Eagle ( águia imperial ibérica ), the Royal Eagle ( águia real ) and the Nightingale ( rouxinol bravo )
    3. Route 3: Situated on the banks of the Guadiana river, the river that bathes the Alentejo is the favorite habitat of several bird species, including the Golden Eagle ( águia real ), the Royal buffo ( bufo real ) and Black Stork ( cegonha preta )
    4. Route 4: Situated between the Pulo do Lobo to Serra de Alcaria , on this site it is possible to observe the Royal Eagle ( águia real ), the Royal buffo ( bufo real ), the grey Kestrel ( peneireiro cinzento ), the stiff neck ( torcicolo ,) the blue handle ( pega azul ) and the little Bustard ( sisão ). This course deserves a special mention by the chapel of our Lady of Aracelis , an authentic viewpoint to observe all the surrounding landscape
    Mértola was inhabited by the Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs. The period of Roman occupation began in the 2nd century BC, and became an important trading post, being called Iulia Myrtilis . Mértola became the capital of a small independent Emirate taifa of Mértola. D. Sancho II conquered Mértola in 1238 and received the first Charter in 1512. In the late 19TH century this village of Alentejo has economic development due to São Domingos mines. Between 1961 and 1971 Mértola has lost more than 50% of the population with the decrease of mining activity and never recovered.
    In Mértola there is that highlight the mosque, the castle of Mértola, the Islamic Core, the core of the Christian basilica, the core of weaving, the Roman Nucleus, the nucleus of sacred art, the Achada de São Sebastião core, the Forja do Ferreiro , the Torre do Rio , the Torre do Relógio , the São Domingos , the Pulo do Lobo , a waterfall with 16 meters high located in the Natural Park of the Guadiana Valley, the river beach of São Domingos Islamic Festival, one of the biggest in the Islamic festivals of Portugal which takes place annually in may
  • Odemira: is a Portuguese town located in the Alentejo coast with about 23,000 inhabitants, is the largest municipality in Portugal with 1720 km2. The Odemira is integrated in the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina. The municipality of Odemira's main attractions: the Garden Ribeirinho do Mira , the Garden Fonte Férrea , the Parque das Águas , the Necropolis of Pardieiro , the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Carmo , the Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Neves , the Mother Church Nossa Senhora da Assunção , the Church of Misericórdia , the Cerro do Castelo , Fort of São Clemente , the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina, the beach Malhão the beach Farol , the beach of the Franquia , the beach of Furnas the beach Zambujeira do Mar, the beach Carvalhal , the beach of Almograve , the naturist zone Alteirinhos , the dam of Santa Clara , Cabo Sardão , port Lapa das Pombas and the Azenha do Mar .
    The most important festivities of Odemira are: April Parties in Odemira held annually in April, Tassjazz Festival held annually in June and July, the Tourism Fair held annually in June, the Festival Sudoeste - the largest summer festival in Portugal and held annually in August and the Fair of Hunting Maior held annually in September
  • Ourique: it is a town and seat of Beja district municipality which is situated between Alentejo plains to the north and the Monchique mountains to the south with about 5400 inhabitants. Ourique is the capital of Alentejo Pig. Ourique was founded in 711, the year of the Arab invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Battle of Ourique took place on July 25, 1139 and was decisive for D Afonso Henriques, who was acclaimed king of Portugal after defeating five Moorish kings. The Town of Ourique received Foral in 1290. The Ourique heritage includes the Castle of Ourique, the ruins of Castro da Cola , the Church of Misericórdia , the Hospital of Misericórdia and the dam of Monte da Rocha . The most important festival of Ourique municipality is the Fair of the Alentejo pig is held annually in March.
  • Outeiro do Circo : this village located in the district of Beja is one of fortifications dating from the Bronze Age (1250 BC to 750 BC) the most important of the Iberian Peninsula. Outeiro do Circo was the major center of regional power before the foundation of the city of Beja. The main attractions Outeiro do Circo are the walls, two semicircular bastions and a moat
  • Noudar Nature Park: is a natural park located at Herdade da Coitadinha. The Noudar Nature Park has as main attractions the gardens of herbs: Horta do Monte, Horta da Senhora and Horta do Olival, the pasture to breed cattle Mertolengo , Castle Noudar, biking through nature trails, observation of flora and fauna, wild boar observation and astronomical observation of the night sky with telescope
  • Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina: this park has an approximate length of 110 km and has as main attractions the island of Peach Tree, the Sardão Cape, the village of Carrapateira and Cape St. Vincent. The local fauna includes 200 species of birds, of which 26 nest in cliffs. Special mention white stork, the only species existing stork in the world that builds nests in sea cliffs, the peregrine falcon, ranked as the fastest bird of the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina, reaching an approximate diving speed 385 km / h. The Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina includes about 750 species of flora, 12 species of which only exist in this location. Here are Fluvial areas Prohibited Fisheries and Marine zones Prohibited fishing in order to enhance the balance of ecosystems.
  • Natural Park of Vale do Guadiana : is a park that is located in the middle of the Guadiana river valley with an area of approximately 70,000 hectares. The Natural Park of the Vale do Guadiana offers by major attractions:
    1. Geosítios: Cascade Pulo do Lobo ; Stratigraphic sequence Pomarão composed of volcanic rocks with unique characteristics in the Iberian Peninsula with an approximate age of 350 million years, the mine São Domingos , a mine that was exploited from the Roman period until 1962, having contributed to the region's economy with the extraction of copper, sulfur, gold, lead and zinc
    2. Heritage: the Amendoeira Landscape Interpretation Centre, Centre for Studies and Environmental Awareness Monte do Vento , the river beach of Tapada Grande
    3. Points of interest: Mill Canais , Rocha da Galé , Azenhas do Guadiana , Penha da Águia , Ribeira Vascão , Antas das Pias , Azinhal - feeding zone of Cranes - Mount of Balança - where you can find steppe birds and the dam ravens
  • Serpa is a city of Alentejo located near the border with Spain and an approximate distance of 30 km from Beja, numbering about 11700 inhabitants. Serpa was founded by the Romans and was finally conquered from the Moors in 1230. Serpa up the city on 26 August 2003. The highlight of built heritage in Serpa includes the Church of Santa Maria , the Tower of Horta , the Tower Relógio , the Palace Ficalho , the Municipal Museum of Archaeology and the Intramuros core of the town of Serpa. The main natural heritage attractions in Serpa are the Guadiana site, the site Moura/Barrancos , the zone Malpique and Vila Nova de São Bento . Serpa has several regional products, particularly cheese Serpa, wines Pias and Serpa , olive oil, sausages, honey and olives. Fairs and Serpa most important festivals are: the Cheese Fair of Alentejo, which is held annually in February and the Feast of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe , the main party of the county and is held annually in April

History of Beja

Beja was founded in the Iron Age, increasing importance during the Roman occupation, and a Roman colony was created by Julius Caesar called Pax Julia. Beja became a major commercial center and agriculture during this period of history. After the Roman occupation, Beja was dominated by the Visigoths, and was elevated to the episcopal category to the Arab invasion in 711, then becoming one of the most important cities of the Iberian Peninsula during the four centuries of Muslim occupation. Beja was conquered definitively in 1234 and elevated to city status in 1525 by the Portuguese King João III D. Beja was very destroyed during the Napoleonic wars between 1807 and 1811. From the twentieth century, Beja experienced a period of strong economic development by creating infrastructure in several areas:

  • education, including the new Liceu in 1937;
  • in health, with the construction of the new hospital in 1970,
  • judicial
  • commercial.

In 2011 opened the Beja Airport.

The most important festivities of Beja

  • Sacred Music Festival Alentejo: is held annually between March and July
  • Florir Beja: is held annually in May
  • Beja Romana: held in May
  • International Festival of Comics: is held annually between May and June
  • Ovibeja: is held annually in April and May
  • Beja Gourmet: is held annually in October
  • Olivipax: is held annually in October
  • RuralBeja: held in October
  • Vinipax: is held annually in October

The Beja cuisine

The gastronomy of Beja is the result of a warm climate, a hard working region and with scarce means to cook. Over time, several generations of Alentejo were knowing prepare simple home dishes with regional products, including bread, water and spices. The lack of resources is visible in some Alentejo dishes which are now highly appreciated, yet free of meat or fish, including the gazpacho which consists of a cold soup made with tomato, cucumber, crusty bread, oregano, olive oil and salt, to be served in hot days of summer Alentejo. The alenteja cuisine reflects the true spirit of the region, leaving a desire to return ...


Typical dishes of the Beja district include specialties such as:

  • Soup of beldroegas
  • Açorda Poejos
  • Açorda the Alentejo
  • Lamb stew
  • Migas with pork
  • Brains with tenderloin
  • Moleja
  • cakes folhados
  • Bolo podre
  • Queijinhos de hóstia
  • Toucinho do céu
  • Trouxas de ovos
  • goat cheese and sheep

The Alentejo is 49% of the wine produced in Portugal. In the Alentejo there are the following producers:

  • Casa de Santa Vitória
  • Herdade da Malhadinha Nova
  • Herdade dos Grous
  • Herdade da Mingorra
  • Herdade do Monte Velho e Figueirinha
  • Herdade do Paço do Conde
  • Herdade do Selão
  • Herdade do Vau

The Beja crafts

The Beja crafts include traditions and ancient arts that also contribute to the economic development of the city and the region, namely:

  • pottery
  • basketry
  • Works in wood and cork
  • rents
  • Shoes

The Cante Alentejo

The cante Alentejo was classified as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on November 27, 2014 due to a joint bid of the Municipality of Serpa and Entity Regional Alentejo Tourism. The cante Alentejo is one of the oldest musical traditions of Portugal, belonging to the collective heritage of Alentejo. The lyrics of this genre talk about the hot plains of the work in agricultural fields, local saints of villages in the area and love. This genre of music is sung in unison and without any musical instrument, often associated with agricultural workers and miners Alentejo. The first choral group to Cante Alentejo appeared in 1926 in the mines of Santo Domingo, currently disabled. It is not known the origin of this genre, but in the early twentieth century some folkloric groups began organizing trials in the Alentejo villages with local male choirs. The dictatorship of Oliveira Salazar promoted Cante Alentejo as a good example of Portuguese folk culture, have been held competitions among sing in choirs. Currently the choral groups are not constituted only by men: there are groups formed by women only and mixed groups of men and women. In cante who starts singing it is always the Ponto with a precise voice, followed by Alto , with a more acute and intense voice, and finally the coro , made up of the rest of the group. The songs passed down from generation to generation are currently taught in local schools.

Watch the video of Cante Aletejano


old video

The economy of Beja

The district of Beja's principal agricultural productions wheat, cork and livestock. Agricultural products with higher expression of this region are wine with approximately 70 thousand hectares of planted vines and a production of about 3.6 million liters of annual wine, olive oil with approximately 11 thousand hectares of planted olive groves and a production of about 14 million liters of oil per year.
Predominant the Beja district industries are pottery, marble extraction and metalworking industries. The Alentejo subsoil is rich in raw materials, including copper, granite, tin, marble and pyrites.

Projects and support to enterprises

Beja is set in a region booming and business innovation, with emphasis on the following projects:

  • Beja Ecopolis
  • BejaGlobal: a partnership that was held on June 9, 2011 with the municipalities of Alvito, Beja, Cuba, Ferreira do Alentejo e Vidigueira to promote Beja Airport and surrounding regions
  • CEBAL: creation of the Agricultural Biotechnology Center and Agrifood Lower Alentejo and Coast
  • Cluster Energy Beja
  • Cluster Aeronautic Beja
  • Cluster "New Rurality" Beja
  • Cluster Mobility and Transport
  • Creative Industries Cluster
  • Nest companies NERBE /ERBAL
  • Companies Nest Ponto Óptimo
  • Technological Laboratory Network of Beja county
  • Beja Industrial Park

The tourism Beja

The tourist activity in the Beja district has played a prominent role in the Lower Alentejo economy. The district of Beja's main tourist attractions: the Border City and Elvas Garrison and Fortifications classified as UNESCO heritage, castles and typical villages, hostels, religious heritage, Cante Alentejo, gastronomy and wines, the cork oak forests, the Lusitano horse and bullfighting, Alqueva, the Guadiana river and the beaches.
The Alentejo is 12.2% and the Alentejo Litoral 29.8% of overnight stays in the Alentejo region. Most tourists originates from Spain, France, Brazil, Germany and the UK. Tourism presents itself as an industry in full growth in the region.

Quick facts about Beja

  • Population: about 36,000 inhabitants
  • Area: 1106, 44 km2
  • Region: Alentejo
  • Subregion: Alentejo
  • District: Beja
  • Airport: 1
  • Hospitals: 1
  • Pharmacies and mobile medicine depots: 12
  • Health centers: 1
  • Establishments of banks and savings banks: 20
  • Hotel establishments: 7
  • Accommodation capacity in hotel establishments: 664

See on the map the points of interest in Beja