BEJA TOURISM GUIDE
A famous 17th-century love affair and a lavish old convent
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Founded by Julius Caesar as Pax Julia,
Beja is a pleasing town with whitewashed houses and a 13th-century castle.
It is one of the largest towns in the Alentejo
province, with the richest copper mines in Europe, although it is best known
for a 17th-century love affair.
Chamilly, a French count, supposedly seduced a nun who lived in the Nossa
Senhora da Conceição Convent but then left the town forever. The nun's
grief and anguish were revealed in passionate letters that ended up being
published in Paris in 1669. A later translation to English made Five
Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun internationally famous as a classic of
romantic literature celebrated for its lyric beauty.
The nun's beautiful 15th century convent,
one of the richest and most important at the time, is now the Regional
Museum with a remarkable blend of architectural styles. It has
elaborate Gothic portals, Manueline windows, a magnificent Rococo chapel, a
chapter house with an incredible painted ceiling, and cloisters completely
covered in stunning 16th century tiles, one of the finest examples of this
art form. The museum's collection includes Roman and Visigothic stones,
15th to 18th century Dutch and Portuguese paintings, and Escudela de Pero
de Faria, a piece of Chinese porcelain from 1541 that is unique in the
world.
Across the square from the convent is the Church of Santa Maria, with
massive round pillars and Mudejar arches.
It was first a Visigothic temple in the 6th century and then a mosque during
the Moorish occupation, but most of what is seen today dates from the 15th
century reconstruction.
The castle has a 36m (118ft)-high tower that crowns the town and
provides views from the top. Behind it is the Visigothic Basilica of
Santo Amaro, a rare example from the Visigothic period and one of the
country's oldest-standing buildings (parts date back to as far as the 6th
century). With interior columns carved with 7th century geometric motifs,
it houses a small museum with the most important Visigothic collection in
the country that includes tombstones, weapons, and pottery documenting the
Visigothic presence in the region.
Beja is usually visited on the way to Algarve, but those who
choose to stay overnight can sleep in the town's beautiful pousada
located in a former monastery.
Connections to or from Lisbon and western
Algarve are best by train; for Evora and eastern
Algarve it's quicker by bus.
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Places Nearby
Evora -
A museum-town; a Roman temple; prehistoric sites
Monsaraz
- A white town; a magical medieval atmosphere
Mértola
- Islam meets Christianity
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AROUND LISBON
AND TAGUS VALLEY Alcobaça Arrábida Azeitão Batalha Cascais Ericeira Estoril Fatima Leiria Mafra Nazaré Obidos Palmela Peniche Queluz Santarém Sesimbra Setubal Sintra Tomar |
ALENTEJO
Beja Castelo de Vide Elvas Estremoz Evora Marvão Mértola Monsaraz Vila Viçosa ALGARVE Albufeira Faro Lagos Sagres Silves Tavira Vila Real de Santo António Vilamoura |
BEIRAS (CENTRAL PORTUGAL)
Aveiro Belmonte Buçaco Coimbra Conimbriga Figueira da Foz Guarda Monsanto Piodão Serra da Estrela Viseu PORTO AND DOURO Amarante Lamego Porto |
MINHO
Barcelos Braga Gerês National Park Guimarães Ponte de Lima Ponte da Barca Viana do Castelo TRAS-OS-MONTES Bragança Chaves Vila Real THE ISLANDS Azores Madeira |