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Castro Verde Description
Surrounded by vast plains, Castro Verde is a rural town in a region where sheep
breeding and grazing are the main agricultural activities. There is abundant
proof that the zone was inhabited since pre-historic and Roman times, and the
town lies near the site where the legendary Battle of Ourique was fought, in
1139, when Afonso Henriques defeated the Moors and declared himself the first
king of Portugal. The battle is recalled by the 18th-century tiles that decorate
the Mother Church (also known as Royal Basilica), which equally exhibits rich
golden woodwork and precious objects of religious art.
Other churches and chapels are worth visiting, as well as the traditional
windmill at the main square, recently restored, and the new Museu da Lucerna
(Lamp Museum), displaying an important and diversified collection of Roman
oil-lamps from the 1st century AD that were discovered in 1994 at the village of
Santa B�rbara dos Padr�es.
Castro Verde is also proud of its annual fair, always held on the 3rd Sunday of
October, the most important of the district of Beja and famous for its rural
character and ethnographic diversity. Otherwise, the county offers visitors the
opportunity of enjoying long walks or bicycle rides in a wonderful and peaceful
natural scenery or participate in bird watching activities, organized by the
Environmental Educational Centre of Vale Gon�alinho. Regional food specializes
in typical dishes of the Alentejo, often based on bread, aromatic herbs, olive
oil and lamb, besides traditional cakes and sweets such as queijadas de
requeij�o (a sort of small cheese-cakes).
Handicrafts include typical woollen rugs, lace and pottery.
Castro Verde Map (Click Here)
Castro Verde Weather
     
Castro Verde Events
Festival de Maias - May (Beja)
Ovibeja (Largest fair in Alentejo) - 28th April / 06th May
Town Holiday - 1st June (Beja)
Festival de Nossa Senhora da Gra�a - 1st week August (Beja)
Festival de S�o Louren�o - 2nd week August (Beja)
Festival de Nossa Senhora da Luz - 3rd August (Beja)
Castro Verde Information
 800 296 296 - Support to Tourists
112 - SOS
284 310 200 - Hospital
284 311 913 - Tourist Office
Castro Verde Locations of Interest
Menhir Sites
Archaeological Site - Corvo
Municipal Gallery
Castle - (M�rtola)
Church - (M�rtola)
Museum of Sacred Art - (M�rtola)
Museum of Weaving - (M�rtola)
Tower - Torre do Rio - (M�rtola)
Archaeological Site - Monte do Outeiro - (Ourique)
Archaeological Site - Porta das Lages (Ourique)
Convento de S�o Francisco - (Almod�var)
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