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Beja History
Beja is the capital of the Baixo Alentejo District and maintains attractive
visible evidence of its historic background. It is recorded as existing in 48 AC
after the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar gave it the name of Pax Julia and declared
it as a regional capital. However, there is evidence that the location was
inhabited since the Bronze Age. The Town Square was originally the site of its
Roman Forum. The Moors renamed the town when they occupied it, and but for a
brief time in 715, they were firmly entrenched from 711 to 1162. In this later
year the Kings forces led by Fern�o Gon�alves drove out the Moors who later in
1165 were also driven out of the neighbouring fortified town of Serpa. During
the War of Independence between Spain and Portugal (1640-1667), Beja played its
part more than once in being successfully attacked and occupied by the both
sides of the conflict. In more recent times the French sacked the city and
massacred the inhabitants during the year 1808. In 1962 the now venerated
General Ant�nio Delgado led an army uprising that was destined to quickly fail
against the strength of the Salazar regime.
Beja Description
The city with about 22.000 population has a number of ancient buildings and the
name Beja as used today was given to it by the occupying Moors in the 6th
Century. The Convento da Nossa Senhora da Concei��o dating from 1459 is both
visually interesting and enjoys international fame from the 1669 French
publication of the celebrated �Lettres Portugaises�. These were five lyric love
letters by a 26 year-old nun named Mariana Alcoforado to her lover the Comte de
Saint-L�ger after he deserted her. The Convent is an architectural mixture of
Gothic, Manueline, Baroque, with Hispanic-Arab tiles. It also houses the Museu
Regional da Rainha Dona Leonor. This museum contains many items that reflect the
various cultures that have influenced the region since Pre-Historic times. These
take the form of ceramics, glass, bronze, iron, coins, mosaics, sculptures,
carvings and art. The 13th Century Capela dos Tumulos do Convento de S�o
Francisco is attached to the building that has been rebuilt as a Pousada. As you
approach the City you can not fail to notice the 13th Century Torre de Menagem,
the keep of the original castle built by Dom Dinis. The impressive tower stands
36 metres high and has an interior staircase of 183 steps that may be climbed.
Adjoining the castle walls the Igreja de Santo Andr� dates back to the 4th
Century and is one of the few standing Visigoth churches in Portugal. It also
acts as a museum for this little know about period. A specialty of the town is
the �P�o de Rala� bread-cake made with pumpkin.
Beja Nearby Locations
To the north west of the Beja is the town of Alvito with pre-Roman origins. It
boasts having the only castle built in Portugal that was not as a residence for
its King. The Barons and Marquises of Alvito, and the Counts of Oriola, enjoyed
such influential favour in the royal courts during the 15th and 16th Centuries
that they were permitted to construct the palace that now has been converted
into a charming Pousada. There are several interesting buildings in this
attractive small town that also date back to Roman times. The Chapel of S�o
Sebasti�o is striking in its classical simplicity whilst inside are interesting
frescos and underneath the building are some caves dating back to at least the
12th Century. In the town the 13th Century Parish Church is of architectural
interest. Slightly further to the north is the Sanctuary of Santa �gueda that is
worth a visit.
To the northeast of Beja is the town of Vidigueira with its rich association
with the family of the explorer Vasco da Gama who acquired its rights from the
King in 1519. Close to here, at Vila de Frades, are the 2nd Century Roman ruin
of the Ermida de S�o Cucufate. This is the only remaining Roman villa with two
floors in the whole of the Iberian peninsular and with frescos dating between
the 1st and the 17th Century.
To the north of this town is another interesting place named Portel. The town
lies beneath and around its commanding 14th Century castle. In history it played
a part in freeing Portugal from the rule of the Castilians when a sympathetic
monk betrayed his pro-Castilian master.
To the east of Beja in the direction of the Spanish border is the town of Serpa.
This well fortified town with its interior 13th Century castle has had a long
military history dating back to perhaps before 1.000 BC. Today, the town
provides a fascinating visit for any tourist with its abundance of historical
and architectural remnants of the past and its fame for making cheese. Within
this town are various Museums. A particular one is a fascinating private museum
devoted to the history of the watch. It records 350 years of watch making with
over 1.600 working pieces collected from all over the world. This is one of the
few museums of its kind outside of Switzerland. Also, particular to the
inhabitants of this town is a special ancient chant that the inhabitants vocally
render on public occasions and has a Gregorian sound.
To the north of Serpa is the ancient and once important fortified town of Moura.
There exists here another fable or story that the town was taken from the Moors
by the Christian forces with the help of a Princess who was so in love with a
Knight that she opened the castle gates to allow the Christians to secretly
enter and take the town. The present ruins of the castle originally date back to
the 14th Century. The castle and the later constructed town walls were both
destroyed when occupied by the Spanish occupation in 1707. This town and its
surroundings is also well established as the best area in Portugal for the
production of quality olive oil.
To the east of this town on the border with Spain is the smaller town of
Barrancos. This town has gained notoriety in recent years as it is the first
location in Portugal where the inhabitants have reverted to the killing the bull
in the bullring as is practiced in neighbouring Spain.
Beyond Beja to the south at Pis�es on the road to Aljustrel, is a semi-excavated
important Roman villa.
Further to the south east of Beja is the town of M�rtola. This ancient small
town is worth a visit as it has played an important role in the history of the
region. This inland town was once well linked to the coast by means of the River
Guadiana that today flows past as a very small river in comparison to what it
must have been when trading ships sailed up from the coast to load produce.
Ruins from the Romans, Visigoths and Moors indicate the importance of the trade
and copper mining that once made it so important. Beside the Castle, the are
three interesting museums devoted to the different periods of occupation, one of
which is in the basement of the Town Hall.
Beja Map (Click Here)
Beja Weather
     
Beja Events
Festival de Maias - May
Town Holiday - 1st June
Ovibeja (Biggest fair in Alentejo) - 28th April / 06th May
Festival de Nossa Senhora da Gra�a - 1st week August
Festival de S�o Louren�o - 2nd week August
Festival de Nossa Senhora da Luz - 3rd August
Beja Information
 800 296 296 - Support to Tourists
112 - SOS
284 311 800 - Town Hall
284 310 200 - Hospital
284 311 913 - Tourist Office
Beja Locations of Interest
Arch - Arco das Portas de �vora
Castle
Cathedral - S� de Beja
Church - Igreja da Miseric�rdia
Church - Igreja de Santa Maria da Feira
Church - Igreja de Santo Amaro
Church - Igreja de Santo Andr�
Convento do Carmo Velho
Convento da Real Nossa Senhora da Concei��o
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