Moorish Castle
Aljezur is a small market town in two halves, dominated by the ruins of
its hilltop Moorish Castle from which there are fine views over
the surrounding countryside. It was originally settled by the Moors
in the 10th century and finally conquered by Christian forces in
1246. The oldest surviving building, apart from the castle, is the
Misericordia Church built in the 16th century and rebuilt after
the 1755 earth-quake.
Carrapateira Beach
There is a 16th-century pillory in the 5 de Outubro square. The newer
half of the town is separated from the older by a fertile river
valley. There are several really spectacular, unspoilt beaches in
the vicinity. The most accessible are Amoreira, Monte Clerigo and
Arrifana, easily reached from the riverside village of Odeceixe,
18 km north of Aljezur on the N 120.
