Feira de Castro

Every October, the old fairground of Castro Verde fills with stalls, music and people from across the south for the Feira de Castro — one of the oldest and most important traditional fairs in southern Portugal. Chartered in the seventeenth century, it remains a great gathering of the Alentejo, bringing together commerce, food and the traditions of the plain.

History and identity

The fair was established by royal charter in 1620, and for generations it was the great market of the region — where farmers traded livestock, cloth and tools for the winter, and where people from the Alentejo and the Algarve met at the edge of the town. Its site, the Largo da Feira, still holds the same role today.

What to find and discover

• Stalls of regional products, crafts and household goods.
• Food and drink of the Alentejo, from grilled meats to sweets.
• Music, entertainment and the atmosphere of a country fair.
• The old fairground and the white town of Castro Verde beside it.

Products and specialities

The fair is a showcase of the Baixo Alentejo — olive oil, cheeses, honey, smoked meats and the region’s sweets — in the heart of the steppe country of Castro Verde.

Nearby

The fairground adjoins the town of Castro Verde, and the walled town of Serpa is a short drive east.

Visiting

The Feira de Castro is traditionally held over the third weekend of October, on days that vary from year to year. Dates and programme are set annually by the municipality; check the official pages before planning your visit.

Information: cm-castroverde.pt e visitcastroverde.pt.

Image credit: Castro Verde at sunset, seen from the marketplace, by Forcastro, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.