Serpa Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Beja > Serpa > Serpa > Bairro Municipal

Location

Serpa Castle rises prominently over the town, in the heart of its historic center, in the locality and municipality of Serpa, in Baixo Alentejo. Its elevation, about two hundred and thirty meters above sea level, provides a comprehensive view of the Alentejo landscape, allowing one to glimpse the vastness of the surrounding plains.

The fortress is integrated into the urban fabric of the town, accessible through its ancient gates and streets that wind up to this high point. Its presence is a constant on Serpa's horizon, marking the silhouette of the town and inviting exploration of its interior and its walled surroundings.

A Centenarian History

The site where Serpa Castle now stands has a remarkable past, with vestiges dating back to prehistory. It was a strategic point from remote times, witnessing the presence of Romans, Visigoths, and, more enduringly, Muslims, who contributed significantly to its fortification. This long succession of cultures left its mark on the castle's structure.

After the Christian Reconquest, the town and its castle were targets of intense disputes. It was under the reign of D. Dinis, in the late 13th century, that a significant reconstruction of the old Muslim fortress began, even utilizing part of the original rammed earth walls. Over the centuries, the castle adapted and resisted numerous conflicts, including the War of Restoration, which prompted modernization works, and the War of the Spanish Succession, which caused serious damage with the explosion of a powder magazine.

Architecture and Visible Features

The Serpa Castle complex, classified as a National Monument, reveals a sub-rectangular plan, with a quadrangular keep (alcáçova) in the highest area, to the north. The walls that once encircled the town have an oval shape, punctuated by cubelos (small towers) and towers of different shapes, topped with prismatic battlements.

Originally, access was through three monumental gates, such as the Porta de Moura and the Porta de Beja. One of the most notable features is the aqueduct supported by arches over the western section of the walls, extending to a gigantic noria (water wheel) near the southeastern corner, which supplied the old Palace of the Counts of Ficalho, a Mannerist construction also integrated within the walls.

Heritage and Memory

Part of the Castle currently houses the Serpa Archaeological Museum, where one can appreciate a collection of finds recovered in the region, spanning periods from the Paleolithic to the Roman era. This space offers valuable insight into human occupation and the cultures that inhabited this territory over millennia.

In the square in front of the Church of Santa Maria, which was once a Muslim mosque, stands the imposing Clock Tower. This quadrangular tower, with its bell tower and conical top, is a remnant of the old town wall and was converted into a clock tower as early as 1440, making it one of the oldest in the country with this function. Its presence is a living testament to Serpa's historical continuity.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt