Beja is the capital of Portugal’s beautiful and unspoiled agricultural region of Alentejo. This 1,147 square kilometer of land, however, is only second to Evora in the Alentejo region. The city also serves as an important economic hub, particularly for Portugal’s agricultural products. People may first come to Beja on business, but why not have them stay a little longer to see what Beja has to offer?

The castle built in the 13th century is the most important landmark in Beja. The central feature of the castle is the sinister-looking Torre de Menagem or Marble Keep, which also serves as the symbol of the city of Beja. Tourists can climb the 197 steps of the spiral staircase to reach the top of the keep and enjoy the peaceful vista of the Alentejo countryside.

Aside from being one of the only four remaining Pre-Roman churches in Portugal, the church of Santo Amaro also houses the Beja Regional Museum, which exhibits Visigoth artifacts from the 5th until the 8th century. The columns in the church’s interior are decorated with 7th century geometric designs and foliages. One of its most striking designs depict a snake being attacked by birds is one of its most striking designs.

The surviving structure of the Convent of the Conception, Portugal’s national monument, can be found in Praca da Concaicao. The convent was made famous by the passionate love letters, allegedly written by the nun Mariana Alcoforado (1640-1723), to her sweetheart, the Chevalier de Chamilly. The letters were published in 1667 and have continued to spark speculation as to its real origin.

Built in 1927, the museum’s main collection is located in the Convent of Conception, while the rest are housed in the Church of Santo Amaro. The collection includes Roman pieces found in Beja that date back to Julius Caesar. A collection of artifacts from the Bronze Age to the contemporary period was also donated to the museum by Fernando Nunes Ribeiro.

To provide visitors a chance to stay and absorb the ambiance of the historic town of Beja, the 13th century, gothic-style convent has been redesigned to become a state inn or pousada in 1994. It serves delightful meals and is considered as one of Portugal’s best-run state inns.

In order to accommodate business travelers and more tourists, Beja has also recently allowed the building of several modern and more comfortable hotels. So regain your appreciation for the simple, good, and natural and stay a little longer in Beja.