Serpa

In the wide plains of the lower Alentejo, Serpa is a whitewashed town of walls, towers and quiet streets. Its castle and aqueduct recall its strategic past, and its cheese — one of the most famous in Portugal — carries the town’s name around the world.

History and identity

Serpa grew up around its castle, taken from the Moors in the thirteenth century, and kept its walls and gates through the centuries. Its aqueduct, built in the seventeenth century, still crosses the edge of the town, and its old quarter preserves the white-and-ochre character of the Alentejo.

What to see and do

• The castle and the old walls, with views over the plain.
• The aqueduct and the town’s old gates.
• The historic centre, with its whitewashed streets.
• The clock tower and the town’s churches.

Gastronomy and traditions

Serpa is famous for its cheese, made from raw sheep’s milk, and for the olive oil and wines of the surrounding plain. Its festivals and fairs follow the slow rhythm of the Alentejo.

Visiting Serpa

Serpa is in the lower Alentejo, about 30 kilometres from Beja, reached by road. Access to the town is free; for local services and events, check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-serpa.pt.

Image credit: Serpa, Portugal, by Vitor Oliveira, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.