Moura, municipality and city in Beja, Portugal
Moura is a town in the Beja region of southern Portugal, situated near the Guadiana River. It features narrow streets lined with stone buildings, an old castle on a hilltop, sections of medieval walls, the Arab Museum built around a preserved Moorish well, and several churches spread throughout the town center.
The town was conquered from the Moors in 1166 by two brothers. In the 13th century, King D. Dinis rebuilt parts of the town and established formal rules for its organization, while King D. Manuel I later ordered the castle to be reconstructed.
The Mouraria quarter still displays the layout and housing style typical of Arab neighborhoods from when the Moors lived here. Walking through this area gives a direct sense of how daily life was organized and how families used these spaces centuries ago.
Visit during cooler months since summers are hot and the heat can be intense. The town is small enough to explore on foot, with the main sites and buildings easily reached from the central areas.
Local legend tells of a Moorish girl named Saluquia, whose story is passed down and told near the old castle. Outside town on a lonely hilltop stands the Atalaia Magra watchtower, which once guarded the land and now offers views across the surrounding olive groves and fields.
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