Category: Archaeology > Fortified Settlement
District: Beja > Ourique > Marchicão
The Castro de Cola rises on a schist hill approximately 200 meters high, in an isolated point of the Alentejo landscape, near the Marchicão stream and the Mira river. Its elevated position allows for a broad visual command over the surrounding territory, revealing the strategic importance of the site throughout the centuries.
Located in the parish of Panóias, in the municipality of Ourique, this ancient settlement is situated among cork oak forests, watercourses, and agricultural areas, about 12 km from the town of Ourique and 6 km from the small village of Palheiros. The surroundings are marked by a rustic tranquility and open views, in an environment that invites contemplation.
Inhabited intermittently from the Neolithic period until the Middle Ages, Castro de Cola testifies to the long human presence in this part of the Alentejo. Its most significant phase occurred during the Iron Age and, later, in the Islamic period, when it transformed into a small fortification with defensive and administrative functions.
The name “Cola” may derive from the Arabic term Qal’a, meaning “fortress”. This origin aligns with the role the site played as a strategic outpost during the Muslim period, possibly known as Marjiq or Marachique. It may even have been the seat of a small municipality, granted a charter in the 13th century, before being gradually abandoned in the 15th century.
The ruins of the castro show an irregularly shaped walled enclosure, with a perimeter of about 330 meters, built of schist stone. Some square-plan towers reinforced the structure, and the main entrance was through an elbow-shaped gate, a typical configuration of Islamic fortifications in the south of the Peninsula.
Inside, traces of houses, warehouses, workshops, and a cistern excavated into the rock have been identified. The space was divided between an area for military use and another with residential and commercial functions. There are also signs of occupation outside the walls, on the slopes facing the river and stream, suggesting a well-structured community.
Adjacent to the ruins is the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Cola, whose devotion is deeply rooted in the local population. It is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers in the region, with records of religious manifestations dating back at least to the 19th century. The legend of the miraculous image that returned alone to its place of origin is still alive in popular imagination.
Several traditional songs refer to Nossa Senhora da Cola, reflecting the cultural and symbolic importance of this sanctuary in the Alentejo. Around the hill, popular beliefs linked to fertility and the power of stones persist, keeping alive the connection between the sacred space and the daily life of rural communities.
Excavations have revealed a diverse collection, including objects from the late Neolithic to the Middle Ages. Notable finds include ceramic pieces, glass beads, weaving instruments, fragments of Roman columns, tombstones with Arabic inscriptions, and agricultural tools.
The first systematic studies were carried out by Abel Viana between 1958 and 1964, allowing the reinterpretation of Castro de Cola as an important Islamic center. Since then, the site has been the subject of archaeological interventions and conservation, being classified as a National Monument since 1910.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelo_de_Cola
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.578989,-8.300612
Coordinates DMS: 37°34'44.4"N 08°18'2.2"W
Weather Marchicão
On-duty Pharmacy Marchicão
