Mértola

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Located in the Planície Dourada tourist region, the municipality of Mértola is located southeast of Alentejo and is part of Beja's district. It borders to the north with the municipalities of Beja and Serpa, to the west with the municipalities of Castro Verde and Almodôvar, to the south with the municipality of Alcoutim and to the east with the Spanish provinces of Andalusia and Huelva. Its privileged location, determined by the condition of it being the most extreme point of navigability of the river Guadiana, was vital for the Mediterranean trade routes. The highest point of the county, at about 370 meters above sea level, is at serra de Alcaria Ruiva, which, in addition to a magnificent view, also provides the ideal conditions for the practice of paragliding. In the eighties, with the intensification of the archaeological activity, a vast heritage that conferred the title of "Village Museum" to Mértola was discovered. Buildings of great monumentality allow any visitor to identify the Roman presence in the village of Mirtilis, Roman designation of Mértola. The discovery of the copper mine in São Domingos in the late 19th century, brought a new dynamic to the municipality, including the considerable population increase. With the decline of mining the exodus of the population was witnessed, although there are still visible marks left by the presence of mines in the territory, particularly in buildings of this locality. The extensive cultural heritage along with the environmental, hunting, cultural and sportive wealth give a very own identity to this county. The Festival Islâmico de Mértola (Islamic Festival of Mértola), an event that celebrates all the historical heritage of the village and the strong Islamic influence, is organized every two years. The gastronomy of the region, which is Mediterranean-based and -flavored, offers suggestions that attract numerous visitors, in particular with regard to the seasonal delicacies, such as the lamprey. Cheese, sausages, bread and pastries, wines and honey are listed in the regional products.

What to do in Mértola

Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana

Mértola

Created in 1995, the Guadiana Natural Park, that includes the parishes of Mértola and Serpa, is of great interest in terms of plants, animals, geology and landscapes. The medium part of the Guadiana valley, between Pulo do Lobo and the mouth of the Vascão brook, with its valleys and several tributaries, is beautiful above average. There are boars, little bustards, …

Pulo do Lobo

Mértola

Surrounded by the parishes of Mértola and Serpa, this waterfall is quite beautiful. It is 13.5 metres high, in a rich geological area, where the river passes between two cliffs.

Castelo de Mértola

Mértola

Castle of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, with quadrangular towers. The keep is on the hillside more phantasmic Shap. Medieval doors only if conserves of mercy, on the Guadiana river. The ancient Citadel, as well as important sections of the wall that surrounded the population, are still preserved. Archaeological work carried out in the Citadel of the Castle uncovered a Moorish …

Praia Fluvial da Tapada Grande

Mértola

A beach located by the São Domingos Mine, that belongs to the Natural Park of Guadiana.

Museu de Mértola - Núcleo de Arte Sacra

Mértola

Ths ole temple of the Misericórdia de Mértola houses the first municipal religious art museum. This space, named Porta da Ribeira, presents a unique set of images and religious utensils from popular hermitages and chapels. It features religious art from …

Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Entre Ambas-as-Águas / Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção / Igreja Matriz de Mértola

Mértola

This former mosque it was adapted to a Christian church on the 13th century with a manueline – mudejar façade where it stands out the crenels and the spires. It is the only one that stills conserves the volumetric and …

Torre do Relógio de Mértola

Mértola

It is likely that the clock tower was erected in the late 16th century or early 17th century, in the context of the reorganization of the urban area of the Town Hall square. This building was erected in the vicinity …

Mértola

Mértola

A picturesque small town, with traditional houses and an imortant heritage. Mértola has the Castle and the Mother Church, both classed as National Monuments, and the paleo-Christian Basilique.

Alcáçova do Castelo de Mértola

Mértola

In the northern slope of the Castle, the possible forum of the Roman city creates an artificial platform, support the imposing monumental Myrtilis City set. All this platform, flush with the wall, relied on a solid underground Gallery with about …

Azenhas do Guadiana

Mértola

Water mills took advantage of in the past, the current of the river Guadiana to transform the grain into flour. Today, the mills are leisure venues.

Museu de Mértola - Basílica Paleocristã

Mértola

A space inside the old paleochristian church, with an exhibitions about the beginnings of Christianity.

Mina de São Domingos

Mértola

Mining complex installed in the 19th century for the operation of a pyrite mine cuprífera whose deposit was explored as early as Roman and pre-Roman. The main elements extracted during the modern exploration, between 1854 and 1966, were the copper …

Museu de Mértola - Casa Romana

Mértola

A part of the museum that presents roman findings, including a house of that time.

Canais do Rio Guadiana

Mértola

The channels were used, in the Guadiana, to capture fish. In the municipality of Mértola there are the latest traps of this type, which have fallen out of use, where deviate fish to places where it was easier to catch …

Museu de Mértola - Núcleo de Arte Islâmica

Mértola

A museum in the centre of Mértola, in an 18th century building, with objects of the arabic period, found in digs that have been taking place since 1978.

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Travel Guide

Up to date tourist information about the city's top attractions

The Best River Beaches in Southern Portugal

In the deep Alentejo and the Algarve, there are freshwater beaches that are a true balm for body and soul.

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Where to eat in Mértola

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Where to sleep in Mértola

Alentejo Star Hotel
Alentejo Star Hotel

4 star

This House has already been administrative seat of one of the largest mines of pyrite and covers of the Iberian Peninsula. The building is very close to a rive…

Casa dos Loendros
Casa dos Loendros

The House of Oleanders in Co.mayo Redhead, is a House of rural tourism. In the vicinity there are all conditions for the practice of paragliding.

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Near Mértola

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