A visit to Mertola, Portugal

posted in: Europe, Home, Portugal | 0

Mertola is a small, walled town on a hillside next to the River Guadiana at the edge of the Algarve, and topped with a castle. This was the most northerly trading town on the river, used by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, who were followed by the Romans and then the Moors (for 500 years) before this strategically placed town was retaken by the Portuguese in the 13C.

Mertola

The Castle is at the highest point of the town, built by the Moors. Ibn Qasi was a 12C ruler, born in Silves, who controlled Mertola as an independent state, breaking away from the ruling Almoravid Moor dynasty, a move which led to his assassination in 1147. He seems to have been a quite extraordinary man. 

Ibn Qasi (12C)
Ibn Qasi (12C)
The Castle of Mertola
The outlook over the River Guadiana from The Castle of Mertola
The ravine of the River Oeiras under the Castle walls
The ravine of the River Oeiras under the Castle walls
The Moorish walls of Mertola
The Moorish walls of Mertola
Old road and gateway from the River Guadiana to the walled town
Old road and gateway from the River Guadiana to the walled town

Under the walls an interesting ongoing excavation reveals the plan and living conditions of the town in previous centuries, including a 6C Baptistry.

The Parish Church was once a Mosque and the Mihrab is still clear.

The Mosque and now the Parish Church in Mertola
The Mosque and now the Parish Church in Mertola
The Mosque and now the Parish Church in Mertola
The Mosque and now the Parish Church in Mertola

The Islamic Art Museum in Mertola and worth visiting.

Outside the town, and upriver, there are traditional mills at Azenhas do Rio on the River Guadiana. The mills date to the Mediaeval period and stretched across the river, from one bank to the other.

Mills at Azenhas do Rio
Mills at Azenhas do Rio
Mills at Azenhas do Rio
Mills at Azenhas do Rio

And from Mertola we drove down the Guadiana to Aljustrel, and then on to Faro to fly back to the UK – a wonderful few days in Portugal, as always, and I am already looking forward to the return visit.

Further information
Mertola and here

I would love to hear from you!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.