Page 312 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

rotavicentina.com). The main historic and social importance.
square is enhanced by elegant It is also a major centre for
18th-century mansions. the production of wines and
The Museu Municipal still the harvesting of olives and
retains some cells from its cork, which are grown on the
days as a Salazarist prison. Bejan plains.
Exhibits include Roman finds The town became a regional
from nearby Miróbriga. capital under Julius Caesar,
who called it Pax Julia after
On a hill just to the east
EXPERIENCE Alentejo the site of the Roman city Lusitanians (p42). The Praça
of Santiago do Cacém lies
the peace made here with the
of Miróbriga. Excavations
da República marks the site of
the Roman forum. The Moors
have uncovered a forum,
arrived in AD 711, giving the
two temples, thermal baths
town its present name and a
and a circus that had seating
Stone cross in front of
were forced out in 1162.
the Igreja Matriz at
Museu Municipal
Beja has been the scene of
Santiago do Cacém for 25,000 spectators. lively, poetic culture until they
⌂ Largo do Município struggles against oppressive
§ 269 827 375 # 10am– regimes. In 1808, occupying
21 noon, 2–4:30pm Tue–Fri, French troops massacred
inhabi tants and sacked the
noon–6pm Sat ¢ Public hols
Santiago do Cacém city, and in 1962, during the
Miróbriga
! D6 @ n Parque da " ⌂ Signposted off N121
Quinta do Chafariz; 269
826 696 § 269 818 460 # 9am– HIDDEN GEM
12:30pm, 2–5:30pm Tue–Sun Lagoa de
Santiago do Cacém’s Moorish ¢ 1 Jan, Easter, 1 May, 25 Dec Santo André
castle was rebuilt in 1157 by the The warm shallow
Templars (p176). Its walls, which waters of the Lagoa
enclose the cemetery of the 22 de Santo André, 15 km
adjacent 13th-century Igreja (9 miles) northwest of
Matriz, afford great views of Beja Santiago do Cacém,
the Serra de Grândola. The ! E6 £ @ n Castle; offer a safe place for
church is the starting point 284 311 913 swimming compared
of the 350-km (217-mile) to the beaches on the
Rota Vicentina foot path to Capital of the Baixo (lower) Atlantic Ocean.
Cabo de São Vicente (www. Alentejo, Beja is a city of

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