Explore the best places
Heritage in Portugal
Ermida da Memória
- heritage
Cabo Espichel
2970, Cabo Espichel
A chapel of harmonious proportions, built on the site where, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in 1410. Inside, 18th-century tile panels narrate the history of the sanctuary. The quality and iconographic value of these ceramic panels deserve special attention.
Forte de Santiago de Sesimbra
- heritage
Rua da Fortaleza, 39
2970-628, Sesimbra
An imposing fortress that preserves the various outbuildings for the garrison, the cisterns, the powder magazine, the governor's residence, the dungeons, and the private chapel. A fort with two elevated and two lower bastions, with a sloping wall and a parapet pierced by gun emplacements and cylindrical guard towers.
Pegadas de Dinossauros
- heritage
Casais da Azoia
2970, Cabo Espichel
In the first cove north of the lighthouse, at Boca do Chapim, there are numerous dinosaur footprint trails (round in shape). Looking closely, you can even see the rectangular tail mark. The trail begins where the Atlantic Ocean bed is today and follows the escarpment upwards.
Castelo de Sesimbra
- heritage
Rua Nossa Senhora do Castelo, 11
2970, Sesimbra
The castle preserves the two fundamental elements of medieval fortifications: the town walls and the citadel, which retains the keep. On the walls, which form an irregular polygon, the gates providing access to the old town are visible: the Sun Gate and the Azoia Gate.
Núcleo Museológico da Rua do Sembrano
- heritage
Rua do Sembrano
7800, Beja
This space integrates a collection of archaeological remains of great importance for reconstructing the city's history. Here you can find traces from the medieval and modern periods, and even from the Roman era and the Iron Age.
Palácio dos Maldonados
- heritage
Rua do Esquível, 21-29
7800-162, Beja
The palace was built in the mid-16th century on the initiative of a local family called Furtado Mendonça, whose coat of arms can still be seen above the main door. The building has a Renaissance profile, evident in the design of the main portico and the fine arcade found in the inner courtyard. At the end of the 19th century, the palace was used as the headquarters of the Beja High School, a situation that lasted for 35 years. Currently, the building houses a student residence.
Portas de Moura
- heritage
Rua das Portas de Moura
7800-425, Beja
The Portas de Moura were rebuilt in 1867, when they were consecrated to Saint John the Baptist. At the top of the arch there is a passageway, decorated with a characteristic balcony.
Convento da Conceição / Museu Rainha Dona Leonor
- heritage
Largo da Conceição, 5
7800-131, Beja
Church of the former Franciscan Convent of Santa Clara, founded in the 15th century. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the city of Beja suffered extensive destruction of its heritage, and only the church, the cloister, the chapter house, and adjacent rooms survived from this former convent. The Gothic portal on the facade stands out, and inside, the gilded woodcarving and tilework are noteworthy. The Queen Dona Leonor Museum is now located within the convent.
Ermida de Santo André
- heritage
Rua de Lisboa, 74
7800-292, Beja
According to tradition, this hermitage was founded by King Sancho I to commemorate the capture of Beja from the Moors in 1162. The ogival reconstruction, however, dates from the 15th century. It is part of the group of Gothic-Mudéjar constructions, typical of the Alentejo region, highlighting the narthex, the conical pinnacles and the battlements.
Arco Romano de Beja
- heritage
Rua de Dom Dinis, 1
7800-305, Beja
Possibly built between the 1st and 4th centuries AD, this arch is supported by two towers and is integrated into the medieval castle, outside the citadel. Also known as the "Évora Gate," its main function was to provide access to the barbican that surrounds the keep.