The Municipality of Mértola in collaboration with the consulate of Portugal in Seville The Três Cultures Foundation and the Seville Mesquita Foundation presents the Islamic festival in the capital of Andalusia a presentation session of the 13th edition of the Islamic Festival of Mértola to take place at the Foundation's facilities Três Cultures The program includes a concert with the group beyond Cabul This initiative is part of the international promotion of the event that aims to strengthen transfronical cultural cooperation It is a reference in the valorization of Islamic heritage and in intercultural dialogue Being the presentation in Seville an extension of this mission © 2014 - 2015 Lidador News. | All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy Metrics details A multidisciplinary approach has been applied to investigate the production technology of a collection of copper-based artefacts found during archaeological excavation campaigns carried out in the Almohad neighbourhood of Mārtulah the Islamic name of modern Mértola (South of Portugal) In stark contrast to other Islamic materials found in the same site such as common and finely decorated pottery metal objects have received less attention despite the high number of artefacts recovered This study focuses on the chemical characterisation of 171 copper-based artefacts dating back to the 12th and the first half of the thirteenth centuries The artefacts are daily use objects and consist of personal ornaments (earrings and oil lamp sticks) and artefacts with unknown functions The analytical results by X-ray fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) provided information not only about technological issues but infer as well on the socio-economic implications of metal consumption in Islamic Mértola Results revealed that metals were produced using a variety of Cu-based alloys as a likely result of recurrent recycling and mixing scrap metals practices or use of mineral raw materials available locally Along this period of prosperity that lasted about five centuries the Iberian Peninsula also played a central role as one of the major points of transmission of Islamic culture and technology to the rest of Europe Location of Mértola (South of Portugal) the period when the metal artefacts analysed in this paper were produced and used were characterised by a great development in trade despite a political instability caused both by internal crises within the Islamic community and by increasing external pressure caused by the advancing Reconquest by the Christian Iberian kingdoms From the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD periods of political fragmentation (with the creation of the so-called Taifas) especially under the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties The conquest of Mértola by Portuguese king Sancho II in 1238 was a key moment in the southward advance of the Christian forces that put an end to the Islamic presence in southern Portugal by conquering the Algarve region The systematic archaeological excavations carried out along more than 40 years in the urban area of the modern Mértola have shed light on this historical period allowing to reconstruct its history and the evolution of the town since the Iron Age period and across the centuries still stand as evidence of Islamic Mārtulah One of the most relevant excavated areas is the Almohad neighbourhood in an area located on the northern slope of the castle that overlooks the town and detail of an archaeological area of the excavation (B) Even though Islamic copper-based artefacts have been recurrently found at different excavations carried out in the urban area of the present-day Mértola the results of a large-scale analytical program aimed at characterising the chemical composition of a collection composed of 171 artefacts The analytical strategy adopted in this work was oriented towards the on-site acquisition of information on the composition of copper alloys by means of portable and hand-held X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) The aim of the research was to provide an overview of the metal production technology in the site while shedding light on social and economic issues related to the use of metal in Mértola during the last phase of Islamic rule A selected group of metals analysed in this paper Quantification was performed using Bruker S1CalProcess v.2.2.33 software to find the concentration of the unknown samples Zinc and tin contents in all the artefacts analyse from Mértola sorted according to the type of alloy The lines define the areas of each type of alloy and impurities (D) content distribution within brass artefacts the alloy progressively loses about 10 wt.% of its Zn content and a 4 to 5 wt.% additional Zn should be added to compensate the melting losses the recycling of an ancient brass produced via the so-called cementation process and containing 28% Zn Zn content may drop to about 25 wt.% after the first remelting This means that the moderate Zn level observed in Mértola's brass objects is most likely the result of multiple remelting of scrap metal composed the fact that higher temperatures could have been reached may also be an indication of the difficulty encountered by metalworkers who produced the artefacts in use in Mértola in properly controlling the temperature inside the crucibles during the cementation process the data also suggest that the addition of lead in brass was not a common practice The variability of Pb does not seem to have any significant correlation with Zn concentration the highest amounts of Pb were found both in brasses with low Zn content an earring (BC-03-120) with 4.1 wt.% Zn and a spindle (PF-02-130) with 5.83 wt.% Zn an oil lamp stick (EC-01-14) with 19.69 wt.% Zn and a casket ornament (AA-02-56) with 14.75 wt.% Zn Zinc variability within the different artefacts categories from Mértola highlighting the lack of any correlation (A) Iron content within the artefacts analysed from Mértola according to the different type of alloys (A) Bivariate scatterplot showing zinc versus iron contents within brass artefacts (B) the technology for brass production using sphalerite may have been passed on to local metalworkers by Islamic craftsmen who moved to al-Andalus Bivariate scatterplot showing lead versus tin contents within bronze artefacts (A) Distribution of impurities within the five bronze artefacts from Mértola (B) it is very likely that with the Reconquista underway these tin mines were no longer accessible to Moors as in the first quarter of the 2nd millennium Iberia northwest was already under the firm control of the Christian kingdoms it is also possible that the little available tin may have been deliberately restricted to productions of greater social and artistic values such as prestige pottery rather than for metal objects of daily use Histograms showing the concentration of tin (A) and zinc (B) within copper artefacts Bivariate scatterplot displaying tin versus zinc content in copper objects (C) Histogram showing the total of impurities of the Mértola copper artefacts (D) these Cu-artefacts include three casket ornaments The only two nails analysed in this paper are both made of copper although with differences in terms of Pb content Due to the small number of artefacts composed of unalloyed copper the data does not allow however for any further noteworthy comment to be made Histograms displaying the concentration of zinc (A) and total impurities (D) within red brasses The composition of red brasses alloys appears to be a further argument in favour of a predominantly scrap-based metallurgy in which fresh ores were not added to the melt confirm the hypothesis which regards the use of scrap as raw material to produce new objects as a very common practice of the time Some of the minor and trace elements contained in metal objects are related to impurities in the ore processed that are unintentionally reduced during the smelting and refining processes and end up being incorporated into the finished artefacts The elemental concentration of these impurities in the final alloy depends on different factors such as the quantity of impurities in the ore or the smelting technology in use Attempting to address questions concerning to origin of raw materials through the identification of impurity patterns is a controversial issue in archaeology although the presence of certain minor elements can give valuable information about the type of ore employed and/or the technology adopted in their production Stacked columns with the main impurities detected in the 171 artefacts analysed from Mértola showing differences in the concentration of each element and in the total amount (A) Boxplot displaying the variability of impurities in brass artefacts (B) and the rest of alloys (C) was not merely intended to understand from which mine the metal used for the production of a certain object may have come from but instead to characterise the changing nature of metal objects in use and in circulation and their social meaning This system is based on the presence/absence and variability of some specific trace elements commonly found in ancient metals These elements have a different thermodynamic behaviour when dispersed in the liquid metal: while As and Sb tend to decrease Ag and Ni are less likely to be lost during the (re)melting process no clear patterns can be observed in the distribution of the four impurities mentioned above even though some differences can be detected between their distribution in brasses and the rest of the alloys from the overall distribution we can observe that while As and Ni tends to be higher in brasses Ag and Sb have larger average amounts in non-brass alloys as follows: arsenic content is between 0.03 and 1.5 wt.% (0.03–1.5 wt.% in brasses and 0.04–1.0 wt.% in the rest of the alloys): silver is between 0 and 1.94 wt.% (0–0.85 wt.% in brasses and 0–1.94 wt.% in the rest of the alloys) nickel is between 0 and 0.44 wt.% (0–0.44 wt.% in brasses and 0–0.15 wt.% in the rest of the alloys) and antimony is between 0 and 1.02 wt.% (0–0.59 wt.% in brasses and 0–1.02 wt.% in the rest of the alloys) Boxplot displaying the concentration and variability of zinc (A) and lead (C) in the 171 artefacts analysed here from Mértola it is not at all likely that the metalworkers who produced the objects found in Mértola were unaware of the mechanical properties of the different copper-based alloys to the point of not taking advantage of them this low tin content could depend on the fact that its supply could not always be assured due to political tensions and/or economic restrictions as tin ores were found in territories far beyond the control of the Islamic communities in southern Portugal and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula likely due to the use of local available sphalerite a larger dataset of analysis would be needed to confirm this trend This research has shown that a variety of different Cu-based alloys were in use in Mértola during the 12th and the first half of the thirteenth centuries Tin bronze artefacts are the smallest group while brass appears to be the preferred alloy to produce objects of daily use bronzes and brasses were further mixed to produce red brass alloys (Cu + Sn + Zn) Pb was randomly added to the different alloys The overall data suggest that objects were not produced with well-defined and predetermined composition and the results clearly revealed that no link can be found between the functions or the forms of the artefacts and their composition as similar objects were produced with different alloys objects with distinct forms and functions were made of alloys with very similar mechanical properties Metalworker that produced the objects found in the Almohad quarter of Mértola apparently did not possess advanced technical skills or they were not particularly concerned with the final alloy composition of the artefacts and/or even if they were aware of the advantages linked to the different chemical compositions of the alloys they chose not to take advantage of this knowledge A point to be further investigated in the future is about the use of zinc ore Iron found at Mértola is lower than other contemporary Islamic sites and this could open up a new scenario to be investigated dealing with the ability of local metalworkers to assimilate a technology brought to al-Andalus by metallurgists arrived in Mértola from the East It is important to remind that the data we are dealing with in this paper represent a sort of snapshot and that we had access to objects escaped from recasting for reasons that we do not know data from Mértola provide new important information not only on technological issues it is very likely that the elemental composition of the metals in Mértola may mirror political barriers and economic constraints of the time that could have deeply influenced the technological options that metalworkers took along the production chain mention has been already made of the great instability experienced in southern al-Andalus during the 12th and the first half of the thirteenth centuries characterised by periods of strong political fragmentation with the formation of the so-called Taifas particularly under the Almoravids and Almohads dynasties an increasing intensification of pressure on Islamic territories by Christian forces lead to the conquering South of Portugal finally achieved in the mid-thirteenth century This climate of political instability is very likely to have had a negative effect on the metal trade with al-Andalus communities experiencing ever increasing difficulties in the access to ore mineral resources located in territories they did not control which unlike zinc ores were not available locally and was also used for other types of production metal technology was affected by the widespread political insecurity in al-Andalus at the time and local craftsmen were forced to adapt their production to circumstances beyond their control and to use as raw material 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Mediev Archaeol. 2018;62(2):304–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/00766097.2018.1535390 Download references The authors would like to acknowledge Rute Fortuna from the Campo Arqueológico de Mértola for the archaeological laboratory treatment of the metals Lino Mioni (Indiana University Bloomington We would like to warmly thank Reviewers for taking the time and effort necessary to review the manuscript We sincerely appreciate all valuable comments and suggestions which helped us to improve the quality of the manuscript The study was carried out within the project DE RE METALLICA—DEfining and REdiscovering MEtallurgy and Trade in AL-Andaluz (VIII-XIII century AD): Leaping into Innovative Comprehensive Archaeometric Approaches Analyses were carried out with equipment from the HERCULES Laboratory (University of Évora Portugal) and funded by FCT (UIDB/04449/2020) Funding for open access fee payment was made available by the H2020-MSCA-ITN-EJD ED-ARCHMAT Project funded by the H2020-MSCA-ITN-EJD under GA n HERCULES Laboratory for the Study and Conservation of Cultural Heritage/IN2PAST Associate Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Heritage Department of History/Campo Arqueológico de Mértola (CAM) Research Centre for Science and Technology of the Arts (CITAR) RB: data interpretation and writing editing data collection and writing editing; JM: writing editing SGM and LR: archaeological investigation and writing editing All authors read and approved the final manuscript The authors declare that they have no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00736-z Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2024) Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science An imposing building with cylindrical towers stands out on the steep hill of Mertola a southern Portuguese town on the banks of the Guadiana river The whitewashed building with horseshoe arches is known as the church of Nossa Senhora da Anunciacao Those who come to visit its vaulted interior are told it’s the best preserved medieval mosque in Portugal “It’s a mixture of many things,” says Germano Vaz We are very proud of this assemblage of religions and cultures.”  Inside the church that used to be a mosque is directly behind the main altar.  a minaret would call Muslims to prayer.  much of what is now Portugal and Spain was under Muslim control. Known as al-Andalus the region became a hub for cultural exchange The three religious groups coexisted relatively peacefully in southern Portugal Portugal is still replete with traces of its Islamic past from architecture to the influences of Arabic in the Portuguese language and music In mid May, the sound of the Islamic call to worship could be heard again on the streets of Mertola. It didn’t come from the tower that replaced the medieval minaret, but from loudspeakers placed around town for the 10th Islamic Festival of Mertola we want to show that there are still a lot of similarities between people across the Mediterranean,” says Manuel Marques the head of Mertola’s Culture and Heritage office.  “With intolerance and extremism rising all over the world we want to show that it is possible to live together Mertola was a great example of coexistence a lot of different people lived here.”  Muslims arrived here in the 8th century and governed the region for around 500 years The old town’s monuments still retain Islamic features.  “Mertola celebrates its Islamic heritage with pride We want to show respect for Islam and for our common heritage This town has always been a place where different cultures meet connecting southern Portugal with the rest of the Mediterranean,” says Marques.  The festival has been celebrating Portugal’s Islamic heritage with music workshops and exhibitions since 2001.  “We wanted to explore the similarities between Portugal and the north of Africa,” says Jorge Revez, who was involved in the organisation of the festival’s first edition. Currently the president of ADPM Revez worked with Moroccan associations to preserve the cultural heritage of al-Andalus.  In the medieval period, Mertola’s port and mineral riches made it an important regional centre. After a period of decline, the town was revitalised by the discovery of Islamic artefacts in the 1970s. Mertola now claims to hold Portugal’s most significant Islamic art collection On Friday night, a diverse crowd gathered by the river to listen to the UK-based Palestinian band 47Soul the band mixes traditional Levantine music with synth hooks and electronic beats to create music they refer to as "shamstep".  Tunisia and Niger brought different people together filled the narrow banks of the Guadiana valley.  King Manuel I of Portugal issued an edict expelling all Jews and Muslims from his kingdom The coexistence and cooperation of al-Andalus seemed to be at an end.  Today, Muslims make up less than 0.5% of a population of nearly 11 million. For centuries Portugal’s Islamic heritage was largely forgotten.  the traces of Islamic history were erased,” says anthropologist Maria Cardeira da Silva a professor at NOVA University Lisbon who is interested in Arabic and Islamic contexts The Christian nationalist dictatorship that ruled Portugal from 1933 to 1974 depicted Muslims a new interest in Portugal’s Andalus period helped re-evaluate the country’s Islamic past.  “The archaeological work done in Mertola challenged the idea that the Muslim was the 'other' It showed us that our history is made of different layers that are interconnected it’s included in our identity,” says Cardeira da Silva The pioneering work of archaeologist Claudio Torres helped debunk the myths of the Arab Muslim invader historically depicted as the enemy.  The research led by Torres at the Archaeological Field of Mertola emphasised continuity across the Mediterranean Islam arrived gradually in Portugal through trade and was not imposed in the battles documented by historians.  “Archaeology helps us focus on the continuities on the contact and interaction between people on both shores of the Mediterranean,” says archaeologist Virgilio Lopes who has been working in Mertola for the past 30 years.  Archaeologists in Mertola believe that Islam spread across the south of Portugal through its ports and that it expanded rapidly because of conversions and not as a result of violent conquest.  The theory that Islam came through trade and conversions and the archaeological work that focused on continuities across the Mediterranean helped question the dominant nationalist historiography that depicted Muslims as the “other”.  “Archaeology shows us that the other is closer to us than we thought,” says Lopes “We have a common past and a lot of cultural similarities We are closer to northern Africa than we are to northern Europe,” he argues.  Ali has been living in Portugal for twelve years.  “I lived in Germany before moving to Portugal They are warm and friendly,” she adds with a smile.  Ali has been coming to the festival since 2011 but she tells MEE that this year’s festival was more difficult because it coincided with Ramadan.  “It’s hard to reconcile the programme with fasting,” says Ali having been coming to Mertola for 15 years Despite being tired from fasting and the heat he spent the day serving tea to guests and selling Arabic sweets in the market “I don’t mind serving tea while I’m fasting,” says Beddar describing at length what he plans to eat when the sun sets “Mertola is special and I love being here,” he adds.  But many regret that local Muslim communities were not more involved in planning the festival the Islamic festival in Portugal might perpetuate Orientalist fantasies and reproduce cliches about Islam “There is the danger of the festival becoming a 'folklorisation' which is also a way of creating distance,” warns Cardeira da Silva “The aim should be contradicting the problem of othering Mertola should show that the other is also part of us.”  This article is available in French on Middle East Eye French edition. Copyright © 2014 - 2025. Middle East Eye Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters Middle East Eye          ISSN 2634-2456                      This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page the river that forms much of the Iberian border is peaceful and characterful – and you don’t have to start off on a zipwire I flew – at terrifying speed along 720 metres of zipwire suspended over the Rio Guadiana – from Spain into Portugal I’d taken a boat from Alcoutim (on the Algarve side of the river) to Sanlúcar de Guadiana (in Andalucía) From there I was driven up to a launch platform on a rocky summit with jaw-dropping views of both countries I tried to focus on those views: two dazzling white villages but thanks to the international time difference I gained an hour The LimiteZero experience (the world’s only cross-border zipline) was just one of the high points of a meandering road trip along the Rio Guadiana – the long river that rises in the Spanish province of Albacete slips over the Portuguese border near Elvas in Alentejo and heads south to the Bay of Cádiz View image in fullscreenLimiteZero Photograph: Luís CostaDriving a hired Fiat 500 my husband Dave and I stuck mostly to the Portuguese side of the river taking six days to do what amounts to a three-and-a-half-hour drive the river forms a natural boundary between Spain and Portugal; a trail of castles and fortresses glare at each other from opposite riverbanks but there are lots of other things to see: salt marshes heavenly night skies and the wild landscapes of Alentejo’s Guadiana Valley national park where the river squeezes into craggy ravines and kestrels and golden eagles circle over the waterfall at Pulo do Lobo (or Wolf’s Leap) A detour took us to the eerie ruins of the Sao Domingos pyrite mines and later we pressed on to Elvas – a little-known border town with world heritage status – just to see the remarkable seven-kilometre Amoreira Aqueduct which took more than 100 years to build (from 1537) Our phones made erratic switches between Spanish and Portuguese time as we followed the river on a back road to Alcoutim The home of the LimiteZero zipline sits among banks of orange olive and almond groves and gardens of figs and apricots on one of the loveliest stretches of the Guadiana The Praia Fluvial do Pego Fundo river beach is an oasis of cool green water and soft white sand imported from the coast There’s also a castle (first built by the Moors reconstructed in the 14th century and again 100 years later) and an archaeological museum displaying Roman pottery and a collection of medieval stone board games View image in fullscreenIn Sanlúcar del Guadiana Photograph: Roger Lee/AlamyThe place is popular with walkers who come here to start (or finish) the Via Algarviana trail a 300km footpath that runs from Cape St Vincent to Alcoutim The 165km Grande Rota do Guadiana (or GR15) from Vila Real to Mértola also passes through Free weekly newsletterThe only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns Another hour’s drive took us north to Monsaraz a beguiling town on a hump of schist that rises from the plains of Alentejo’s montada – a vast area of holm oaks and cork forests pedestrian streets and whitewashed houses are built of flinty metamorphic rock (wear sensible shoes) and offer dreamy views of the largest artificial lake in Portugal We were lucky to choose a moonless, cloudless evening for a late-night stargazing session at the “official” Dark Sky observatory, in a former primary school in tiny Cumeada. Read moreIn a courtyard we stood and stared into space while our guide picked out Pegasus the farthest we humans can see with the naked eye I’d like to do it all again – maybe on the Spanish side of the river – though I am in no hurry to repeat the zipline experience The trip was provided by Visit Algarve. For more information see visitalgarve.pt or visitportugal.com with the intent of a cultural integration in the village mértola the main inspiration was the guadiana river which has always been and is the most the important way of communication and interconnection between mértola and the rest of portugal 360º under water was first presented at the ’90º in the shadow’ exhibition by résvés in mértola through the decades of influence from all the communities that have passed by, the river in mértola worked as a commercial port center, including layers of excavated civilizations under the village concerning trade. with this in mind, the designers at ojeam studio have created a ceramic 3D printer which activates a rotating potter’s wheel simultaneously and a extruder that prints ceramic containers this project is also an approach towards the massive evolution of technology that allows us to create and build everything in a more efficient way 360º under water is a machine that can re-create a scenario of a picnic or a barbecue afternoon 360º under water is a machine that can re-create a scenario of a picnic or a barbecue afternoon this project is also an approach towards the massive evolution of technology that allows us to create and build everything in a more efficient way ojeam studio have created a ceramic 3D printer which designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. happening now! partnering with antonio citterio, AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function, but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style, context, and personal expression. PortugalChevron NANCY LOVASave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links it's not the promise of shade that leads me into its cloisters flanked by cheery yellow walls and weathered colonnades when the structure was built for an order of Augustinian nuns While transforming the convent into a hotel in 2006, developers began carving out a swimming pool. “A joke that archaeologists and historians make here is that if you dig a hole, you're going to find something,” says João Pedro de Matos, a researcher with a postgraduate degree from Universidade de Évora The excavations revealed vestiges of a medieval Muslim quarter dating back to the 13th century The site is now a tiny museum under the hotel bar The cost of my drink covers my entrance fee The bartender points me toward a staircase with a tiny placard: Almohad (Islamic) Quarter it's easy to trace the footsteps of the Moors in Andalusia But in Portugal you have to work a little harder to see what remains of this inheritance in Al-Gharb It chronicles the region's history as a Muslim stronghold until the mid-13th century where last summer a 12th-century Islamic bathhouse was declared a National Monument the towering belfry of the church of São Clemente was once the minaret of a mosque While the Moors may have been vanquished centuries ago they still loom large in the collective imagination: Getting lost in a web of alleys in the seaside village of Olhão (Al-Hain) I stumble upon statues dedicated to local legends that recount tales of enchanted Moorish sirens and ghosts but it's the only remaining medieval Islamic place of worship in Portugal that still stands nearly intact the Moorish legacy is more elusive than in the south largely due to a 1755 earthquake that ravaged the city But as Romanticism swept the Iberian peninsula in the 19th century Islamic influences appear in the color-blocked fantasia of Sintra's Peña Palace which King Ferdinand II built in 1854 with cartoonishly dramatic arches and honeycombed ceilings and in the domed turrets crowning Belem Tower in Lisbon When I walk into the lavish inner sanctum of Embaixada an 1800s villa transformed into a hip shopping gallery in the posh Príncipe Real neighborhood I feel like I've entered a riad in Marrakech a cultural center in what was Lisbon's first casino I read Arabic letters spelling out “Allah” chiseled into the stucco As I continue to search for the Moorish Lisbon I realize that it is at once nowhere and everywhere Glossy ceramic tiles with kaleidoscopic motifs may be a Portuguese signature but their lineage is instantly recognizable to anyone who's set foot in Morocco—even their name is derived from the Arabic “al-zillij.” The Portuguese language in general has an Arabic pedigree pronounced “oshala,” derived from “inshallah.” No translation needed At the restaurant in Casa do Alentejo I join the journalist and culinary tour guide Célia Pedroso steaming soup with poached eggs and bread—another Moorish culinary souvenir I follow her deep into the labyrinth of Lisbon's Mouraria named for the Moors who once inhabited these lanes little evidence of them remains beyond the name these immigrants chose Mouraria,” says Pedroso where daily life plays out among a convivial hum of bargaining I've come searching for Portugal's rich Islamic past and along the way I've found its present up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email The municipalities of the Baixo Alentejo have criticised the project to supply the Algarve from a new water catchment on the Guadiana River demanding that it also serve the local population This position was unanimously approved at a meeting of the inter-municipal council of the Baixo Alentejo Intermunicipal Community (CIMBAL) which comprises 13 of the 14 municipalities in the Beja district (the exception is Odemira) CIMBAL states that the project to capture water from the Guadiana to supply the Algarve through a pipeline to the Odeleite reservoir in the municipality of Castro Marim (Faro) was under public consultation until April 29th The proposal received a negative opinion from the Chamber of Mértola and the Association of Municipalities for the Management of Public Water of Alentejo (AMGAP) The municipality of Mértola reminds CIMBAL is “one of the territories most susceptible to desertification” and is struggling “with water scarcity and high water stress many of the localities [in this municipality] are supplied using underground water sources” the only resource for public supply is frequent transport using autotank” this is what is happening in the parish of Espírito Santo where the project prepared by the company Águas do Algarve envisages the creation of a surface water catchment in the estuarine area of ​​the Guadiana river “it will make perfect sense for a combination of efforts to help solve the problem of lack of water in this parish in the municipality of Mértola taking advantage of the project to reinforce the water supply to the Algarve” the inter-municipal community urges everyone involved “to seek conditions for the public supply of water to localities in the parish of Espírito Santo based on the proposed project or other technically and financially more convenient solutions” CIMBAL adds that the position will be sent to various entities such as the Ministry of Environment and Energy Águas Públicas do Alentejo and regional coordination and development commissions for Alentejo and Algarve The project to capture water from the Guadiana River in Pomarão to supply the Algarve included in that region's Regional Water Efficiency Plan is valued at around 61.5 million euros and is supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) The investment “will make it possible to reinforce the guarantee and increase the resilience of the Algarve’s multi-municipal urban water supply system given the expected and already felt effects of climate change” according to the conclusions of the non-technical summary of the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) the project is also contested by the environmental associations Zero and Plataforma Água Sustentável (PAS) We appreciate that not everyone can afford to pay for our services but if you are able to we ask you to support The Portugal News by making a contribution – no matter how small You can change how much you give or cancel your contributions at any time Send us your comments or opinion on this article Reaching over 400,000 people a week with news about Portugal he specializes in astronomical "Skyscapes" that connect both Earth and night sky Join Miguel here as he takes us through his photograph "The Path of Totality and a Lunar Corona." halo-like feature forms around the moon when bright moonlight is diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds drifting in front of the lunar disk.  The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals which leach through the rainwater and produce acid mine drainage usually with an ocher or reddish color.  Below is a poster with a close-up view of the moon immersed in the blue hue from the corona I used a Canon 6D DSLR camera set to capture a 15-second exposure for each frame with the ISO set to 1600 and with a 24-70mm lens The result is a composite of nine photos showing the moon's path across the night sky For the close-up view of the moon in the second photo I used a Nikon D810a DSLR camera set to capture a 1,3-second exposure with the ISO set to 1600 and with a Sigma DG OS HSM Sports 150-600mm lens Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. Miguel ClaroMiguel Claro is a professional photographer author and science communicator based in Lisbon who creates spectacular images of the night sky As a European Southern Observatory photo ambassador a member of The World At Night and the official astrophotographer of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve he specializes in astronomical skyscapes that connect Earth and the night sky you'll have to use all your Jedi powers to grab this Lego set — Jango Fett's Starship WILL sell out fast These ARE the Lego Star Wars deals you're looking for NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket gets 2nd stage even as Trump tries to scrap Space Launch System (photos) The Alentejo region, which covers a third of the country, is a captivating landscape characterised by dry, golden plains, rolling hillsides and a rugged coastline. Its rich past offers Paleolithic carvings, Moorish villages and wealthy medieval towns, and the local population preserves its craft traditions to this day. Join him here as he takes us through his photograph "The Faint Arch of the Winter Milky Way above Pulo do Lobo."  A night scene captured from Pulo do Lobo, a waterfall located in the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve near Mértola shows the arc of the winter Milky Way sprinkled with stars and other deep-sky objects that glow in shades of red Immediately above the Pleiades, we can find the California Nebula, a red-emission nebula like the Heart and Soul nebulas which are located farther to the right following the path of light of the Milky Way arm.  To see more of Claro's amazing astrophotography, visit his website, miguelclaro.com.  10 must-have 'Star Wars' books and novels coming soon to your galaxy Lígia Rafael e Fernando Martins will be introducing us to the museum town of Mértola in southern Alentejo which lies on the Guadiana River heritage valuation has been seen as a driver of the development of small villages where the local museum becomes a main tourist attraction This has always been the biggest challenge in Mértola to transform a rural village in south Alentejo into a centre of attraction as a way of stabilising the local population and inviting tourists Thus began a new stage in the development of Mértola not as prestigious as its previous role in history as an important trading post and important river port with its connection to the Mediterranean Sea but one full of knowledge about the roots of the territory and its potential The core aim of this new stage of development has been to raise awareness regarding the importance of the archaeological historical and natural heritage of Mértola with the involvement of local agencies and the population Mértola Museum Town is a benchmark project regarding investigations and heritage valuation having an innovative way of disclosing and disseminating results and knowledge Lígia Rafael is the Coordinator of the Museum of Mértola-Claudia Torres She has a degree in History and Cultural Heritage a Masters in Museology and is a PhD student at the University of Évora One of Lígia’s specialisms is in the conservation and restoration of archaeological materials particularly in the research of metals and glass from the Islamic period in the collection of the Mértola Museum Fernando Martins has a degree in Tourism and works at the Museum of Mértola-Claudia Torres where he is responsible for the attendance reception and guided tours of visitors & tourists Non-members are welcome to attend AAA lectures for a 5-euro admission fee, with all money raised by the AAA being used for archaeological grants and speakers. For more information contact algarvearchass@gmail.com, visit arquealgarve.weebly.com or Facebook 'Algarve Archaeological Association' Please check the website or Facebook page for any last-minute changes Join Miguel here as he takes us through his photograph "A Stargazer Shows Where to Find Polaris in the Night Sky." While Polaris is far from being the brightest star in the sky finding it is not as hard as it may seem!  the so-called "pointer" stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper the stargazer's left hand is pointing to Merak and the next-nearest star to Merak is Dubhe Draw an imaginary line between these two stars and extend it out for about 5 times the distance between them located in the upper-right corner of the image where the right arm of the stargazer is also pointing Editor's note: If you captured an amazing astronomy photo and would like to share it with Space.com for a story or gallery, send images and comments to managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com Scientists chased a falling spacecraft with a plane to understand satellite air pollution There is so much more to the country than Algarve sun Our tipsters try coast walks and venture inland for river beaches Winning tip: Coast path to secluded beaches but it was odd there so few people joining us on the well-laid-out coastal footpath Walking from Cabo da Roca seven miles up the coast to the next town was one of the best routes I’ve ever hiked We dropped in on secluded and beautiful beaches via steep offshoots of the coast path with proper ropes alongside the footpath so that you can use it to safely climb up and down the hills including Praia da Ursa and Praia da Adraga View image in fullscreenAlte Photograph: shapencolour/AlamyIf you want to escape the summer crowds in the Algarve head 16 miles (25km) north-west of Loulé to Alte – a village with a quintessential Algarve architecture quirky street art and picturesque natural water springs Praia Fluvial de Alte is a river beach with banks lined with trees and natural springs Fonte Grande and Fonte Pequena are an enchanting sight even during seasonal droughts My favourite time in the year to visit Alte is in early spring when the scent of orange tree blossom drifts in the air and local pastelarias sell a delicious traditional Easter sweet potato cake.Sey a camp and glamp site over 14 hectares of glorious verdant terrain owned and hosted by Dutch couple Jacqueline and Menno Rustic canvas lodges provide the main farm accommodation mostly sourced from the couple’s sustainable farm and vegetable garden Free newsletterGet travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays Read moreAqueducts and fairytale castles in the eastView image in fullscreenThe 16th-century Amoreira aqueduct in Elvas Photograph: Mauricio Abreu/AlamyOften seen as little more than a stop-off point on the border Elvas (in central eastern Portugal) merits a closer look with each curve opening up another sweeping vista of impossibly distant views ancient aqueducts and the star-shaped Forte de Nossa Senhora da Graça (half a mile to the north); all to be visited the following day Elvas is one Unesco world heritage town that doesn’t rip you off and that gives more than promised We have stayed twice at the Varchotel (doubles from around €80 B&B) with its two restaurants and typically Portuguese courtyard Évora has been chosen to be European capital of culture in 2027 so get there before it hits the mainstream.Mike L Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage There are a good number of excellent restaurants that serve up traditional Alentejo cooking accompanied by the superb local Herdade dos Lagos red wine There’s canoe rental in the summer and a publicly enclosed swimming area in the river for kids With the summer heat I prefer a dip in the river itself.Abs Tangri View image in fullscreenStepping stones near Cambra Photograph: JustinaThe Serra do Caramulo looms over us its towering 1,000-metre summit obscured in menacing clouds We start a seven-mile walk from the town of Cambra (about 50 miles south-east of Porto) where the chief landmark is a medieval tower We cross a Roman bridge in search of an aqueduct part of a complex network of channels and watermills A stone-paved road leads us to stepping stones across another river This is just a small part of less-known central Portugal The town of Mértola is predicted to receive about 60,000 visitors for the 12th Islamic Fair which returns today for four days to promote “dialogue tolerance and citizenship between cultures.” is organised by Mértola municipality with the goal of divulging “Mértola’s history and patrimony particularly from the Islamic period,” in which it was known as Martulah the festival also affirms our commitment to promote the values of peace humanism and citizenship to all,” the mayor communitarian and humanist character of the Islamic Festival that has made the event a success.” “an edition with a lot of participation from the public The elected representative also highlighted that the Islamic Festival “is the biggest opportunity to communicate as a territory with culture and heritage to generate economic wealth and to grow new partnerships.” He added that “This festival integrates a strategy for the development of a ‘muslim friendly’ cultural touristic offer a niche in the market in growth and with a great potential for returns.” The 12th edition of the Mértola Islamic Festival starts off Thursday and carries on into Sunday with the big “highlight” being the traditional ‘souk’ an Arabic market that will “fill” the streets of the historic centre of town with the Maghreb’s scents and tastes The festival will close with a show scheduled for 7pm on Sunday the Rancho de Cantadores de Aldeia Nova de São Bento The Mértola Islamic Fair’s programme also includes workshops in chordophone making Join Miguel here as he takes us through his photograph "Bright Milky Way Mixed with Airglow and Clouds Above Mina de São Domingos." A colorful mosaic of the Milky Way shows the dusty galactic core glowing over a puddle of acid water at São Domingos Mine in southeast Portugal Editor's note: If you captured an amazing astronomy photo and would like to share it with Space.com for a story or gallery, send images and comments to managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.  'Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith' hit theaters.. the tie-in game had already spoiled the ending having been chosen as the best European destination in the “Inland Beaches” category at the World Travel Awards 7 min June has started in summer mode and many Brits are thinking of travel destinations this year. Will travel plans be on a river beach with one of the cleanest and calmest waters in Portugal Or in the lagoon that everyone wants (and should) visit Because we don't want you to run out of options today we bring you another suggestion to add to the list — and this isn't just any one We know that if there is one thing that is not lacking in Portugal And this is precisely what happens with the Tapada Grande river beach Although since 2017 — the year in which it was chosen at the World Travel Awards (the tourism Oscars) as the best European destination in the “Inland Beaches” category — it has received numerous international accolades Anyone who has been lucky enough to go there has no doubt: there are many (and good) reasons to change that Praia Fluvial da Tapada Grande has an incredible unique beauty The title of best European destination in the Inland Beaches category only reinforces this as well as strengthening Portugal's position as a tourist route of excellence Less than two hours by car from Faro, and less than three from Lisbon this beach offers a paradisiacal experience perfect for families looking to enjoy hot days in a large in addition to boasting the coveted Blue Flag and the Gold Quality award it is good for children to enjoy the summer season bathrooms and accessibility for people with reduced mobility” explained the Mértola City Council cited by NiT magazine There are plenty of reasons to make this destination a mandatory stop on your itinerary Here you don't even have to worry about taking your hat as this beach offers parasols and grass areas you also don't have to worry about the long meters of bumpy path that many spots of this type require we suggest you rent canoes and pedal boats and explore the calm waters of the reservoir or watch your children play in the playground Around there are spaces with picnic tables and barbecues for those who bring food from home there is an amphitheater that serves as a stage for music and other artistic activities “The support bar is prepared for people with reduced mobility and has five bathrooms two for men and women and one for people with reduced mobility” said the municipality to the same magazine Another detail worth highlighting is the fact that the Tapada Grande river beach area is the only space in the village of Minas de São Domingos with public internet access Still not completely convinced that this is really the best suggestion for hot days We bet these doubts will quickly disappear Knowing that this is a perfect destination for those who don't like beaches with waves and for those who prefer warmer waters the average water temperature is around 25-30 degrees known for its rich history and natural beauty Take advantage of the trip to visit Mértola Castle and discover the panoramic views over the town and the Guadiana River It's a great place to learn about the region's military history the Mértola Museum presents collections of Islamic art offering a comprehensive overview of local history and culture It's a good plan to include in your getaway program Also take the opportunity to stroll through the historic centre visit the Church of Nossa Senhora da Anunciação and walk through the Guadiana Valley Natural Park before or after spending the day at the Tapada Grande river beach you should visit the old São Domingos mine it is a testimony to the mining era in Portugal that deserves to be discovered Department of Geography and Regional Planning – Universidade Nova de Lisboa points out the negative effects of an agricultural drama low precipitation and global warming are all problems threatening Mediterranean regions The current degradation of certain farming zones in correlation with the agricultural history of Portugal raises the problem of the successive intensive agriculture policies implemented over the past hundred years The Department of Geography and Regional Planning of Universidade Nova de Lisboa has analysed the level of land degradation and the reasons behind it for three years during the EC funded project Desertlink The study area of the project was the Mertola district which is experiencing serious desertification problems where the problem of water is particularly worrying there is a need to find solutions to improve the population’s living conditions without further undermining the environment and resources Which are the visible effects of desertification in the Alentejo region Global warming has two serious implications in this region we have noticed that the rain is much more concentrated and so has greater erosive power And this is directly linked to the intensification of natural processes that contribute to desertification there is also an increase in extreme temperatures which means that in part it is difficult to conserve water and there is thus a natural selection of plants in the region Which are the factors that your study team identified as possible causes for the desertification of this region Desertification in this region and throughout Portugal in general can be explained by the misuse of natural resources and by the use of land that was already poor quality and never should have experienced such intensive agricultural use We have two types of landscape in Portugal: a flat landscape and one that’s more hilly because we also have two different kinds of rocks whereas the poor quality land on the other side was less farmed in the past because it was covered with natural vegetation But then land division policies made it such that these lands were heavily used for agriculture and raising cattle In the poverty-stricken region of Alentejo we observe that poor agricultural policies have endured because they are often more economically advantageous for farmers in the short run how is it possible to come up with economic models of transition for a population that is still too dependent on poor agricultural practices We can follow for almost one century that most of the landuse changes and the landcover changes are completly guided by policies or whatever more than by market necessities Certain agricultural practices could be modified without engendering major economic losses for farmers like ploughing larger surface areas but not as deeply ploughing along the contour lines and also reinstating certain farming practices from the past that would be much better adapted to the climatic and pedological conditions (of the land) It is very important to work with different groups of people like technicians from the Agricultural Ministry or other institutions but also with professors who are able to educate large groups of young people; it is important to work with farmers too but also with NGOs that play an important role in spreading information It is indispensable to help guide farmers towards choosing crops that are more respectful of the environment Connect  Read Watch  Broadcast  Contact The waste generated from mining operations is one of the largest waste streams in the world and there can be catastrophic consequences if it’s not handled properly a team at Flinders University is sifting through tonnes of mining waste to address this problem head-on is the outflow of acidic and/or metalliferous water into the environment This occurs when rock containing sulphide minerals (predominantly pyrite) is exposed to water and oxygen triggering a chemical reaction which produces sulphuric acid This usually occurs when earth is disturbed and rock containing pyrite is brought to the surface This is especially problematic at mine sites when the smaller grain size of crushed waste rock and tailings and high pyrite content produce more acid than the natural environment can neutralise This outflow can result in the release of acid into surrounding water systems which can dissolve rock and leach metals and acid into the environment That is why it’s essential to assess the potential of AMD across a mine’s lifespan during the planning stage of a project five-year initiative called ‘Improved Prediction Remediation and Closure of Acid and Neutral Metalliferous Drainage (AMD/NMD) Sites by Examination of Mine Waste Behaviour at the Meso-scale’ is taking place at Flinders University The project is funded through Cooperative Research Centre Transformations in Mining Economies and involves Adjunct Professor Andrea Gerson from Blue Minerals Consultancy Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) Water and the Environment (DAWE) and International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP) The project is centred on scaling-up innovative methods for acid mine drainage assessment and remediation and water and ecosystem decontamination Professor Harmer’s team is also looking at other methods to improve both mine site closures and mining’s impact on the landscape Professor Harmer stressed that a critical element of AMD management is that it should take place proactively not retrospectively – meaning that management should start during greenfield mine development based on geochemical testing of waste rock and tailings “Although at this stage there is no mine or mill waste rock geochemistry can be determined from exploration core samples obtained to forecast the deposit value elements This can then enable block modelling of potentially acid forming and non-acid forming strata and lithography.” A geochemical understanding of the tailings can be undertaken through test work on pilot plant process residues “Understanding how these mine wastes will react to prolonged weathering in terms of both acid and metalliferous drainage enables planning for appropriate segregation and deposition during operations This has high potential to reduce water treatment costs prior to site discharge during operations enable effective emergency closure if required and greatly reduce the cost on final closure.” The consequences of improper AMD management can be far-reaching extending beyond just environmental to also impact companies financially with mine waste materials often getting in the way of mine closures “AMD can significantly restrict a company’s capacity to relinquish a site whether to a private party or government agency after mine closure due to residual liabilities and risk,” Professor Harmer said Alternatives for companies are either to go through an approved closure process while maintaining ownership and liability or to place the mine in care and maintenance with the option for future re-opening Adjunct Professor Gerson said that these options come with varying degrees of environmental and legal responsibility and all require appropriate judicial approvals “They also all come with some degree of cost with relinquishment frequently requiring the greatest capital expenditure particularly where insufficient planning has taken place.” a roadblock to successful closure and relinquishment of a mine site can be the lack of planning of final landforms such that potentially AMD materials are not sufficiently encapsulated within benign wastes.(1) “There are numerous challenges faced by industry in its ability to manage AMD which stem from the complexity of understanding AMD processes coupled with evolving regulatory requirements.” Professor Harmer attributes a lack of consistent site AMD management/investment constant tension between short-term profit and long-term remediation costs with less clear financial benefits everchanging mine personnel and a lack of effective record keeping as having hampered effective AMD management Another challenge lies in correctly forecasting acid and metalliferous drainage Accurate predictions of AMD enable effective mitigation strategies that result in minimal downstream impact on flora the incorrect prediction of AMD can mean the associated company has to undertake water treatment prior to discharge resulting in a liability of potentially hundreds of millions of dollars “Accurate prediction requires not just the bulk assessment of detrimental metals and/or acidification and neutralisation capacities but an understanding of their rates of release Static testing may indicate low acid drainage risk but acid drainage may still occur due to greater rate of release of acidity than neutralisation Relinquishment is only viable if the acid generation rate is matched by the neutralisation rate in the long-term.” Professor Harmer said that there has been a long record of incorrect AMD forecasting in the industry to date “Much of this is not formally documented; however a survey undertaken to determine the accuracy of prediction of water quality at hard rock mines indicated a low level of predictive capability.(2) Where the mines were close to water resources and had significant potential for acid and/or metalliferous drainage about 75 per cent underestimated the impacts of operational water quality in the environmental impact statement predictions.” the Flinders University AMD meso-scale project has several themes that merge to a common purpose for improving the assessment and remediation of mine waste for mine closure “The project aims to provide links between prediction utilising both detailed mineralogy and microbiological assessment of waste for acid generation capacity and remediation of mine waste “The project aims to bridge the gap between lab-scale standardised tests and mine site implementation through emphasis on meso-scale testing of mine waste at more than one tonne “A more complete focus on control at source can influence early changes to process flowsheet and mine planning with the potential to reduce residual risk through improved mine and process design scale up and residual risk is key to the project success.” Professor Harmer said that project partners have identified multiple sites of interest in Australia Canada and Mongolia – covering a range of climatic conditions from the desert to cool and wet to sub-arctic “These sites cover the evolutionary range for closure planning from green field 12 sites have been chosen in collaboration with industry partners and detailed scopes of work for each site have been established and approved “Project sampling techniques for mineralogical and microbial analysis have been developed and are being added to a new AMD/NMD Test Handbook Mineralogical and microbiological characterisation of principal nominated wastes is well underway and has provided insight into the complexity of microbial life on mine sites “The design of both laboratory based and mesoscale tests has been completed Kinetic column testing of principal nominated waste with agreed weathering parameters has begun A new mesoscale facility has been completed at Flinders University where mesoscale kinetic leach testing has started The initial studies are defining potential remediation strategies for each site.” Professor Harmer expects that the results generated from the study will be high-quality and will help produce transformative change for the utilisation of post-mining land “The results will impact policy and community practice across Australia and internationally through industry and government collaboration while widespread dissemination of state-of-theart practice will inform ecosystem restoration and mine-site closure standards.” Professor Harmer said that dissemination of project outcomes will be provided through the new AMD/NMD Handbook with collaboration with government bodies ensuring that the results will be disseminated broadly “Further utilisation of the research findings will be carried out through engineered large-scale trials on mine sites of the companies involved in the project This will ensure that the project’s outcomes reach the target audience and are commercialised for productive usage and greater impact.” Foxtel is making downtime for FIFO workers more enjoyable The Western Australian Mining Conference and Exhibition is set to return to Perth in 2025 Lynas Rare Earths is celebrating a bumper quarter defined by a leap in production All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media Last Updated on 17th February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau Portugal is a beautiful country that’s famed for its delicious cuisine And while the country has become a must-see tourist destination over the past few decades there are still plenty of hidden gems left to uncover Here’s your guide to the best of secret spots in Portugal that you must visit for yourself Portugal is a country in South West Europe that is best-known for its breathtaking beaches historic towns (predominantly dating back to the 16th-19th centuries) If you’re looking for beautiful off the beaten path destinations in Portugal with a very well preserved old town centre The town is perched on a hill overlooking the Guadiana River with the Castle of Mertola towering above it The castle is free to visit and a must-see in Mertola Besides being an interesting sight for anyone passionate about medieval history the castle also offers stunning views over the town After visiting the castle you can spend a few hours wandering the streets of the old town cobbled streets and red roofs that characterize the town Other must-see sights are Church of Nossa Senhora de Anunciacao you should stay at one of the accommodation options on the opposite side of the Guadiana River That way you’ll wake up in the morning and get to enjoy incredible views over Mertola and the river. Don’t miss out on this hidden Portuguese gem, and make sure to add Mertola to your Portugal itinerary An unusual and less visited hidden gem in Portugal is the last operational sugar cane factory on the island of Madeira The factory was founded in the 19th century but there has been sugar cane produced on Madeira since the 15th century Visitors should park at Calheta beach and walk the short distance to Engenhos da Calheta (the sugar cane factory and museum) a small but engaging exhibition and bi-lingual film charts the history of the factory and of sugar cane production on Madeira Visitors self-guide around the small factory but must keep within designated areas from where it is possible to view where and how the sugar cane enters the factory and how it is processed Sugar cane juice is collected and made into squash like drinks or distilled into alcohol such as brandy or cane rum The sugar itself is processed for use in baking or for honey Any remaining cane pulp is processed and made into animal feed It is best to visit the factory whilst operational and particularly in the busy sugar cane harvesting season in April / May Next door to the tiny factory is the on-site cafe and shop where visitors can see the biggest Bolo de Mel ever baked in Madeira (Madeira honey cake) and buy their own honey cake The cafe sells a range of cheap drinks and cakes with tasters available.  A short visit to this small unpretentious factory will feel like watching a slice of Madeiran history and culture.  By Disha Smith of Disha Discovers One of the best-hidden gems of Portugal is Ponta Delgada in the Azores. This volcanic archipelago sits in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and it’s often overlooked by more popular cities such as Lisbon or Porto Ponta Delgada has a long and rich history dating back to the 15th century It quickly grew into a prosperous port town It had become the most important city in the Azores by the 16th century The city played an essential role in the Age of Exploration including Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama stopped in Ponta Delgada on their voyages around the world There are several reasons why Ponta Delgada is a stunning destination in Portugal It’s a unique and beautiful place with mountains The second is its exciting history and culture much of which you can explore at the many museums and historical buildings here The third reason to visit Ponta Delgada is for its outdoor activities and whale watching are just some of the things you can do here Sete Cidades National Park is the most popular attraction in Ponta Delgada This beautiful park features two lakes – one blue and one green – which are the result of a tragic love story but this one might be the most picturesque Another must-do in Ponta Delgada is to admire Igreja de São Sebastião and there’s a beautiful clock tower attached to it Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Esperança and Convent is another church worth visiting stroll along the Avenida Infante Dom Henrique You’ll be able to see Forte de São Brás from here One travel tip for visiting is to always carry an umbrella By Clotilde of A princess travelling with twins During a road trip in the Douro valley a visit to the sleepy town of Lamego is a must a true hidden gem of this enchanting region Located about 20 minutes from the more famous Peso de Regua Lamego fascinates with its narrow streets and quiet air although small and compact it amazes you with the number of interesting sites it contains Lamego is divided into two parts: the uppermost part of the town contains the historical archaeological area having never been inhabited and consequently never having been the scene of battles There is also a delightful tiny free museum with archaeological finds from the area and not far from the charming alleys you will find a simple door that gives access to a building that houses a vaulted stone cistern that shows Arabic influence and has been renovated and opened to the public From the promenade next to the Cathedral you can then start to appreciate perhaps Lamego’s most famous site: the Nossa Senhora dos Remedios sanctuary The sanctuary is located in an elevated position over the town and is connected with it via a monumental Baroque staircase consisting of hundreds of steps (686 to be exact) that zigzag from the top to the bottom if the climb of the nearly seven hundred steps should prove too daunting you should know that the sanctuary can also be easily reached by car Lamego is definitely a spot not to be missed Talasnal is a cute Schist village and a fascinating hidden gem in Portugal There are several Schistic villages in the interior of Portugal which are characterized by having the houses and main squares mainly built with schistic Talasnal is one of the most visited and beautiful schistic villages one coffee and one shop where you can buy local art and a few gourmet products the schist villages were inhabited by small groups of people that earned a living from cattle briding but slowly they started to be abandoned with the lack of jobs and living conditions Nowadays nobody lives in Talasnal so it is used for tourism and preservation of Portugal’s historical legacy.  You can rent one of the cute schistic houses and enjoy a relaxing stay on the mountain It is the ideal place to rest and be isolated from everything Though you won’t be bored as there are plenty of activities to do like hiking and mountain biking visit the other schistic villages near Talasnal that are within walking distance there isn’t any public transportation so you will need a car to visit it Drave is an abandoned village in the mountains of Arouca in the center of Portugal Its last permanent inhabitant left in 2000 but despite it being abandoned it is still quite well maintained as it is a camping site of Portuguese scouts as there are no paved roads to reach the village The only ways to visit it are by foot or by using a 4×4 The hike to Drave is only 4 km (8k with return) As you have to walk up and down the mountain it’s not advised for people with reduced mobility you are able to appreciate the wonderful view of the mountains and spot herds of sheep visiting the village is a unique experience The village is full of stone houses and roads plus there are small lagoons and waterfalls where you can swim It is quite cool exploring the abandoned houses it looks like a mystical place It was not by chance that Drave earned the nickname of “the magic village.” We advise you to visit Drave in Summer so you can enjoy swimming in the lagoon but be aware that there are very few shadows along the way and take lots of water If you’re looking for a true hidden gem in Portugal, the remote Terceira Island in the Azores will not disappoint you From pristine nature and stunning scenery to rich history and cultural traditions there’s much to do and see in the third-largest Azorean island without the hordes of tourists you’ll find in more touristy destinations Terceira was the third island of the Azores to be discovered by the Portuguese navigators in the 15th century hence its name which means “third” in Portuguese is the oldest city in the archipelago and was once the capital of the country during the Liberal Wars Angra do Heroísmo is classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site due to its beauty and historical significance Wandering through the cobbled streets of the city center and admiring its Renaissance-style architecture is a must-do while here Terceira is one of the few places on earth where you can go inside a volcano Algar do Carvão is a spectacular ancient (and extinct) lava tube now covered by lush vegetation and unique stalactites Some other places worth visiting are the natural lava swimming pools of Biscoitos and the breathtaking view from Serra do Cume Hikers are spoilt for choice as the island offers an accessible and extensive hiking trail network through its intact nature Ocean lovers can also choose from a wide range of nautical activities There are daily flights from Lisbon to Terceira all year round The best way to explore the island is to rent a car or join a guided tour Portugal’s only national park is an absolute must Tucked in the northern corner of the country Although it’s located only 100 km from Porto exploring Gerês in public transport is impossible but it’d allow you to only see a fraction of the park So rent a car and stay overnight (or better yet You can camp in any of the several authorized camping spots then Tahiti and Fecha de Barjas waterfalls are the ones for you Built in the Middle Ages and rebuilt in the 19th century the walk down the hill to reach the bridge is beautiful and you’ll be rewarded by close ups of the river and a waterfall If what you prefer is to explore the cultural side of the park for authentic small villages with top-of-a-hill castles You can also visit Nossa Senhora da Peneda and São Bento da Porta Aberta Sanctuaries with shepherds leading their cows and sheep to graze and grannies selling homemade jams and other goodies The most interesting thing in the latter are the Espigueiros a collection of granite granaries perched on stilts There’s a bonus track. The region that houses the park is where the famous Portuguese Vinho Verde (green wine) is produced, so don’t leave without trying it! Portugal is one of the best wine destinations around the world for a reason The Roman ruins of Conimbriga in Central Portugal are a true hidden gem Located just a bus ride away from the university town of Coimbra Conimbriga sees less than a hundred tourists a day Conimbriga was a thriving Roman town in the 1st and 2nd century AD German Suevi tribes arrived and caused massive damage to the city The Romans fled leaving behind their mansions that had some of the most amazing mosaic floors in all of the Roman Empire Conimbriga is one of Portugal’s largest Roman archeological sites and definitely one of the most well-preserved you will see the ruins of noble homes complete with manicured gardens Perhaps the most remarkable thing about these houses is the presence of vibrant mosaic flooring These mosaic floors are filled with images of birds thus giving us a quick glimpse into life from 2000 years ago You will find the most beautiful floors at the House of Fountains and the House of Swastika and some indigenous houses that date back to pre-Roman times There is a museum that gives you deeper insights into the region’s Roman past A standard ticket for the ruins and museum costs €4.50 It is easy to reach Conimbriga from Coimbra by car You can also take a bus labeled Conimbriga or Condeixa-a-Nova Nazare is a beautiful little seaside town located 1.5 hours north of Lisbon Nazare is known for its incredible surfing conditions and is actually home to the biggest waves in the world Some get as large as 100 feet and every year there are new record-breakers between December and March the big wave surf tow championships are held in Nazare where some of the best surfers in the world compete The event can only be announced a few days in advance so it’s never easy to predict when exactly it will take place since it depends on the wave conditions the waves will be slightly smaller but still impressive and walking up the Nazare’s iconic lighthouse viewpoint is a must do during any season This is also the location of the town’s surf museum which you can visit for just 1€ entrance fee If surfing doesn’t interest you very much you should still visit Nazare there is also a calmer bay here which is perfect for swimming and relaxing Walk along the beautiful beach promenade and have lunch in an authentic Portuguese restaurant. Nazare is the ideal place to stop on a road trip through Portugal especially if you have time to spend at least a few days here Take the funicular up the cliffs and admire the incredible view of the ocean The coastline in this area of Portugal is rugged and beautiful and will make you want to come back over and over again By Raluca of TravelWithASpin One of the most underrated places you could visit in Portugal is Coimbra a charming university city and its first capital This is an easy day trip by train or car from either Porto or Lisbon staying overnight in Coimbra is much more rewarding than a day trip.  Coimbra was built on a hill overlooking Rio Mondego and is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe The beautiful university complex stands right on top of the hill and the entire town developed around it It was founded in 1290 and is now the main attraction in town If you want to visit at a specific date and time especially for Joanina Library, one of the most wonderful university libraries in the world As an historical town that respects itself The Old Cathedral dating back to the 13th century and The New Cathedral from the 16th century The city center also hides some unexpected gems a sunken monastery (Santa Clara-a-Velha) and one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Europe small reminders of the Moors’ occupation can also be seen Children will be happy to wander around Portugal dos Pequenitos a miniature park designed especially for them Couples should not miss Quinta das Lagrimas and its romantic legends thus all the attractions are pretty close together it’s recommended that visitors wear comfortable shoes.  If you’re looking for unusual places to visit in Portugal, Evora’s Bone Chapel has to be one of them You could take a day trip to Evora from Lisbon but if you have time then it is worth spending a couple of days here as there are plenty of things to do in Evora and the surrounding area to keep you busy The Capela dos Ossos bone chapel is part of the Church of San Francis and the monastery which was attached to it. The Franciscan Monks who lived in the monastery built the chapel in the 16th Century with bones from local graves and used it as a place for prayer and contemplation about life The chapel is decorated from floor to ceiling with bones and skulls from some 5000 bodies creating a beautiful if macabre design.  There used to be two entire skeletons hanging from one corner of the ceiling but they have now been placed in glass coffins in the chapel It is small but quite spacious and has some natural light so it isn’t as creepy as you might think.  an inscription in Portuguese reads “These bones that lay here wait to welcome yours” so it certainly makes you think about mortality there is a museum where you can learn more about the history of the church and chapel and see several religious paintings and artefacts as well as some photographs showing the recent restoration of the buildings take the time to see some of the other attractions in the city in particular the Roman Temple of Diana and Evora Cathedral One of the best hidden gems in Portugal is the charming surf town you find the first and only World Surfing Reserve in Europe It is also one of the best places for surfing all year round it is recommended to go between May and September But there are things to do in Ericeira for those who do not surf as well The white and blue town is crisscrossed by narrow cobbled streets and lined with a dramatic coastline In between incredible beaches where you can admire surfers ride the waves all day there are rock formations where you can find poems on tiles and old cannons pointing out to the wild Atlantic Ocean The coast of Ericeira has no lack of stunning viewpoints either You can walk along the coast from beach to beach and viewpoint to viewpoint Stop at any bar or restaurant to grab a drink or a bite One of the best beaches is Foz do Lizandro It is unique due to the river running into the ocean and makes it a perfect place for paddle surfing Considering the proximity to the Portuguese capital city it is extremely tranquil in Ericeira and it is a wonderful accessible day trip if you do not have more time it is absolutely recommended to stay a few days to take in the relaxed vibe there is no excuse not to take on the waves in Ericeira joining any of the many surfing schools Odeceixe is a wonderful destination for those looking to escape the South-Algarve-bound crowds without having to compromise on beach scenery. This picture-perfect rural town enjoys a privileged location between two stunning coastlines: the Costa Vicentina and the Costa Alentejana It comprises a mountain-perched center and a beach community called Odeceixe-Mar An idyllic and fully functional historic windmill marks the town’s highest point This landmark is also known to offer the most priceless panoramas as it overlooks the white-washed houses the verdant valley and the meandering river Seixe that gave this town its name where the river forms a unique lagoon that hugs the cliff-flanked golden patch of sand before mouthing in the Atlantic Go surfing in the wild ocean waters or SUPping in the river lagoon Another popular local attraction is the Fishermen’s Trail part of the Rota Vicentina hiking network, which connects Odeceixe to Porto Covo in Alentejo towering cliffs and an abundant collection of unique plants and herbs that makes up the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park the tranquil town center transforms into a lively place visit the 15th century Nossa Senhora da Piedade church with its Manueline-style accents or just stroll the paved streets while taking in the spectacular ocean views head to a local tasca or Portuguese tavern and treat yourself to the freshest grilled seafood paired with locally grown sweet potatoes Standing out the front of the Igreja do Carmo Faro Church many would find it hard to believe what is located at the back of this otherwise unassuming church The facade is a crisp white with a contrasting yellow with the twin bell towers rising up over the small town square it sits in It looks like any other church in Portugal but in the rear of this church is a Capel dos Ossos Once you have paid a small entry fee you can take your time walking through the Church itself Many people take the time to sit and admire the Church that dates back to 1719 before making their way through to the Bone Chapel Visiting a Bone Chapel is rarely what people think it will be The one in Faro Portugal is a small room at the rare of the Church located off a beautiful little garden The walls and ceiling are lined with the bones of Carmelite monks who were exhumed from a nearby graveyard What makes this Bone Chapel different from most is that it is smaller than most measuring only 5 metres long and around 2 meters wide There is an altar at one end where some people can sit to pray while others make their way into the small garden to reflect There is a guard that keeps an eye on all who visits as unfortunately people try to take the bones or touch them which makes them deteriorate For some and especially people travelling in Portugal with kids, Bone Chapels are not at the top of the list of must-see sights Visiting the Faro Bone Chapel is an experience you won’t forget.  By Lotte of Phenomenal Globe Travel Blog  Parque Natural do Alvão is a beautiful natural park in the north of Portugal that should feature on any Portugal road trip itinerary It’s about 75 minutes from Guimaraes and an amazing destination for outdoor lovers Since 1983 this area has been recognized as a natural park and while it’s only small in size there is a large variety of and many things to see and do.   there’s the plains of Lamas de Olo with the Fisgas de Ermelo a chain of waterfalls with 250 meters of high difference over 1.5 kilometers There are many trails in the area which offer beautiful views over the falls Dornelas and Anta are known for their typical houses this type of rock is most commonly found in this area of Portugal.   Another highlight is the Senhora da Graça de Mondim de Basto though technically that’s a little outside of Alvão Parque Situated on top of Monte Farinha and overlooking the village Mondim de Basto and the surrounding area this imposing sanctuary can be seen from afar.   with 360 views as you spiral up the mountain but keep in mind this is only for the practiced biker as it’s a really challenging climb.  To get around the area you need your own wheels as public transport is either very limited or not available at all Also keep in mind that within the park there are no large supermarkets just tiny neighbourhood stores which sell basic necessities (and of course pastel de nata).   Be sure to bring plenty of water and enough food and snacks if you plan to spend a day or two exploring this wonderful off-the-beaten path area in Portugal.   The small town of Tomar is one of Portugal’s best off the beaten track destinations. It is home to one of the best UNESCO gems in Portugal, the Convento de Christo of Tomar which is one of the most extravagant and unique monasteries you’ll ever visit The history of Tomar is strongly linked to the Templar Knights who once liberated Portugal from the Moorish occupiers The Portuguese king was extremely grateful and gave the monastic order land The Templars built their headquarters there until the knights became too powerful and rich and their order was disbanded by the Pope The Portuguese king remembered the services of the Templars well and was so grateful to them that he founded a new order The monastery of Tomar has been expanded over the centuries into a spectacle of architectural styles and new monastery additions The highlight of the monastery is the central round church where every centimetre is richly decorated But perhaps the church is even more beautiful from the outside which you can see from one of the monasteries next to it The window in the west façade is one of the most famous features of the convent as it is one of the best examples of the Manueline architectural style that you can only find in Portugal The facade and the window are decorated with ropes the Templars and especially Portugal’s reputation as a navigator nation In addition to this beautiful and large monastery complex Tomar has a unique aqueduct that was built in the sixteenth century and is 6 kilometres long Just outside the city you can climb to the top of the viaduct and walk over the upper arches as there is no balustrade and the aqueduct is 30 meters high at its highest point a great place that justifies a visit to Tomar Enjoyed reading about the best of hidden gems and secret spots in Portugal Sophie Nadeau is a full time travel writer and photographer focused on cultural experiences in Europe and beyond When she's not chasing after the sunset (or cute dogs she sees on her travels) she can be found reading and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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