See and Do
Places
A visit through Beja
Church of Santa Maria da Feira
Considered one of the oldest churches in Beja, it is believed to have been built on the site of the city's former main mosque. After the Christian conquest in the 13th century, a new church was built, replacing the old Islamic temple. The Gothic apse, visible from the exterior, is still preserved from the medieval building. The narthex was added at the end of the 15th century, the central nave in the second half of the 16th century, and, at the end of the 18th century, the chancel and side chapels were remodeled.
Arco das Portas de Avis
Demolished in 1893 and rebuilt in 1939 with the stones that, curiously, served as fish tables in the market. An unusual story giving new life to one of the city’s ancient entrances.
Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral Garden
Beja's Public Garden dates back to 1840, when a former commander of the 11th Regiment, then stationed at the Convent of São Francisco, landscaped part of the convent's enclosure. Its current configuration began to take shape around 1880, with the municipality's intervention to renovate and enhance the space, a renewal process that continues to this day. Until 1922, the garden was known as the Froebel Garden, in honor of the German educator.
Church of Mercy of Beja
Commissioned in the 16th century by Prince Luís I, the Church of Mercy in Beja is one of the most remarkable examples of Portuguese architecture. Inspired by Italian Renaissance loggias, it was initially intended to house the city's butchers. However, its grandeur led the Prince to offer it to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia (Holy House of Mercy), which adapted it into a church. In the 1940s, the building recovered part of its original appearance.
Arco dos Prazeres
Entrance gate of Beja’s medieval wall, dating from the late 16th/early 17th century, connecting to Praça da República.
Convent of Nossa Senhora da Conceição / Regional Museum of Beja
15th/16th-century temple with a Gothic portal and tiled cloister, housing the Museum of Queen D. Leonor, archaeological exhibitions and art by Mariana Alcoforado.
