| With a 2004 population of 22,000, Beja is a city | | | | An equally impressive bell tower and spire complete |
| located in the agricultural southernmost part of | | | | the picture. The museum itself is a national treasure, |
| Portugal that is filled with history. Beja was fought | | | | housing an impressive array of art including Flemish, |
| over many times throughout the centuries, and as a | | | | Portuguese and Spanish paintings ranging from the |
| result has a mix of many different cultural | | | | 15th to the 18th centuries. |
| monuments, including Roman, Moorish, and Christian. | | | | Another great place to check out in Beja is the 16th |
| Beja is dominated by its 13th century castle, which | | | | century St. Andrew's Chapel, where the main walls |
| looms over this hilltop town. The castle was built | | | | are decorated entirely in tiles from the period. |
| over the remains of a Roman castellum that was | | | | Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Beja is the |
| enhanced by the Moors before the Christians retook | | | | fact that it exists in much the same form that it has |
| Beja in the 1200's. Hardy visitors are welcome to | | | | existed throughout history. The city has not spread |
| climb the 197-step spiral staircase for a stunning view | | | | out like most modern cities, but still has its old-world |
| of the city and the surrounding rolling hills. | | | | looks with cobbled streets and Moorish architecture. |
| Next to the castle is the whitewashed Church of St. | | | | Beja is a very popular summer destination amongst |
| Amaro - one of only four remaining Romanesque | | | | the Portuguese. If you want to avoid the summer |
| Churches in Portugal. | | | | crush of the crowds, May thru June is a great time |
| The regional Museu da Rainha D. Leonor is located in | | | | to visit. Be sure to try the Pao de Rala, a cake-bread |
| a former convent, which is a very impressive building | | | | made with pumpkin that is a local Beja specialty. |
| with intricate late-Gothic lattice work along the top. | | | | |