Mertola: The Museum Town on the Guadiana

Mértola feels like nowhere else in Portugal. A whitewashed town tumbles down a hill above the Guadiana river, crowned by a castle and a church that was once a mosque. It’s known as a “museum town” for its Roman and Islamic heritage. Here’s how to visit this hidden gem of the southern Alentejo.

Quick answer: Mértola is about 1.5 hours from Faro or 2.5 hours from Lisbon. See the Igreja Matriz (a former mosque), the castle, the Islamic Art museum and the riverside. Combine it with the Guadiana valley and the eastern Algarve. See places to stay in Mértola.

Things to do

• Igreja Matriz: a church converted from a 12th-century mosque, which still keeps its mihrab (prayer niche). It’s one of the best-preserved mosque structures in Portugal.
• The castle: views over the town and the Guadiana and Oeiras rivers.
• The museum sites: small museums of Islamic art, Roman remains and early Christian finds scattered around town.
• The riverside: the old river port and the remains of a Roman tower.
• The Islamic Festival: a market and cultural festival held in May every two years.

Nearby

• Vale do Guadiana Natural Park: birdwatching, river views and the Pulo do Lobo waterfall.
• Minas de São Domingos: an abandoned mining village with a river beach.
• Alcoutim: a riverside village facing Spain in the Algarve hills.

Tips

• Heat: summers are extremely hot. Spring and autumn are best.
• Car: essential. Combine with a road trip from the Algarve. See the best road trips.

More: Portugal’s hidden gems, the eastern Algarve and Alentejo hotels.

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