The best cycling routes around Serpa

The Serpa Aqueduct is a well-preserved gem that speaks to the strategic importance of this town and its role throughout history. If you're passing through here, I recommend paying it a visit.

Pretty town near the Portugal-Spain border at the foot of the Ficalho hill that gives the town its name. It can be reached from Rosal de al Frontera (SP) by a picturesque road through the hill that crosses the border.

In the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, the main protagonist is, of course, the river that gives it its name. The fourth largest in the Iberian Peninsula, the Guadiana rises in Spain, crosses the south of Portugal from east to west to Badajoz and then flows down towards the Atlantic. Within the park, the river displays all its wild beauty: winding, serene and surrounded by breathtaking landscapes.

This church, built in the 18th century, stands out for its Baroque architecture and impressive bell tower. Inside, you'll find carved wooden altarpieces and frescoes that create an atmosphere of peace and contemplation. In addition to its religious significance, the church is also a center for community and cultural activities. Various religious events and festivals are held here, such as processions and solemn masses in honor of San Isidro Labrador.

Vila Verde Ficalho has history. It is a village located in the easternmost part of the municipality of Serpa, bordering the Spanish town of Rosal de la Frontera and belonging to the territory known as the Left Bank of the Guadiana. Our people have ancient traditions and historical records that extol them. All the landscape, historical and cultural settings make this border village very special, both for its inhabitants and visitors. Its area measures approximately 10,402,3909 hectares, and the town is flanked by the Ficalho mountain range, which is approximately 518 metres high. Throughout our region, you can see mountains, valleys, hills, dotted with trees, wells and springs. All the archaeological heritage found here reveals bits and pieces of the passage of various peoples through our land, from the Paleolithic era, when man was still a gatherer, to the Neolithic era (3500 BC), to the Visigoths, the Romans (where the city of Finis possibly existed), and the Arab people who left us several customs. The exact date of the founding of our town as a historical place is unknown; hypothetically, it was in the 1940s, in the 13th century, at the end of the reign of D. Sancho II and the beginning of the reign of D. Afonso III. Our people are mainly dedicated to agriculture, although artisanal agriculture is still being seen, new technologies are beginning to be used. There has been a significant decrease in commercial activity, many establishments have been closing and we no longer see, as we once did, clusters of Spanish people. It is worth noting that tourism is likely to increase in this area; in recent months, some have appeared in our town. tourists who have shown a fondness for this small village with an aging population.

In 1281, when Serpa and all the lands on the Left Bank of the Guadiana were still under Castilian rule, Alfonso X established the demarcation of the municipality, so that it could be better populated, and granted it its first charter, that of Seville. After a century of military and diplomatic adventures, with the Christian Reconquest of the Alentejo, Serpa received a new charter from King Dinis in 1295.

Magnificent historical center. The Serpa Aqueduct is an unusual work of Portuguese engineering due to its private nature. It was built at the end of the 17th century to serve the Solar dos Condes de Ficalho, located on one of the sections of the Serpa city walls. The most interesting part of the structure is located next to the Beja Gate, where the aqueduct is supported by arches built on the wall. At the end of the aqueduct, there is a Moorish waterwheel, leaning against the wall and serving as a buttress for the aqueduct itself. (Source: roteirodoalqueva.com)

Today's town was created in 1232 as part of the new settlements after the Reconquista under King D. Sancho II. The community is characterized by agriculture, particularly by the striking olive groves. It has always been known for its olive oil, wine and honey. Ficalho's coat of arms shows a honey bee and olive tree branches.