Mértola, municipality of Portugal
Mértola is a small town on the Guadiana River in southern Portugal, located in Beja district. Narrow streets and whitewashed houses sit on a rocky slope above the river, while the hilltop castle and old walls form the main structures you see when walking through the town.
Mértola was founded as a Roman trading port called Mirtilis and served as an important hub for goods between regions. The Moors took control and established an independent kingdom there, which lasted until the town was reconquered by Christian forces in medieval times.
Mértola displays the traces of its multicultural past in its buildings and daily life today. The mosque later converted to a church and the fortress walls show how Romans, Moors, and Christians each left their mark on the town over centuries.
The town is best explored on foot since narrow streets make driving difficult and most places are close together. Start from the lower plaza or the castle at the top, then move through the rest at a relaxed pace to see everything the town has to offer.
The minaret of the former mosque still stands as a key landmark, a reminder of the Islamic past that many visitors overlook when arriving. This rare example in Portugal shows how the town preserves a living layer of that period in its architecture.
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