It has parking, bar, toilets and surveillance during the bathing season.

GPS coordinates
N 37.6724943º
W 7.4992461º

The mine and its village correspond to an old mining couto. Had connection to the river-sea port Pomarão, on the Guadiana river, through a railway, iron reduced way, about 15 km long, the São Domingos Line – Pomarão.

The mineral exploration at the site of Santo Domingo is prior to the Roman invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, during which the work intensified with the exploration of the “iron hat” over the mass Pyrite, for copper exploration, gold and silver.

In 1858 begins the modern mining operations, by mining company of the “Mason & Barry”. The work continued until 1965, depletion of ore and mine closure. During this period, mining was done in the open up to 120 meters deep, and the work continued through shafts and tunnels up to 400 meters.

With the end of mining, the mining village fell into decay. This was the first village in the country to have electric light.

Occupied successively by Swabians and Visigoths, from the eighth century met the Muslim domination, responsible for the remodeling of the defenses of this prosperous town. References to this new defensive structure arise at the end of the ninth century, given that between 930 and 1031, the castle was consolidated, becoming one of the strongest in the region. With the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba (1031), Mértola became an independent kingdom – the Taifa of Mértola – quickly taken up by Al-Mutamid, the Taifa of Seville. A century later, between 1144 and 1151, became independent again (2nd Taifa of Mértola), is likely to have been built new defensive works during the rule of Ibn Qasi (1144-1151). Admittedly, in 1171, already under the rule of the Caliphate Almohad, the fort was enlarged with a tower and, in 1184, with integral turret entrance gate.

At the time of the Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula Christian, the forces of King Sancho II (1223-1248) invest for the South, following both banks of the river Guadiana been gaining Mértola (on the right bank) and Ayamonte (left) (1238). The first was donated to the Order of Santiago, in the person of their Grand Master, D. Paio Peres Correia (1239). The Order, which already was in charge of the defense of other places south of the country (Alcacer do Sal, Aljustrel, and others), made Mértola its headquarters (chapter) in Portugal, later transferred to the Palmela Castle. In 1254 the town received a charter, raised to town status. Dates from this period the construction of the Homage Tower, whose works were completed in 1292 under the direction of John Fernandes master. This tower and the citadel, were the residence of the Captain-General to the sixteenth century, a time when the structure was gradually abandoned.

Despite the importance of his position, strategic in southern Portugal, the village of Mértola and its castle lost importance from the Portuguese Discoveries. The decline that met from then reflected in the conservation of its walls, so that, in 1758, accused ruin and lacked even the garrison.

The park includes the municipalities of Mértola and Serpa, located district of Beja, covering the waterfront of the Guadiana River and the Mértola village, town of great historical interest.

The Guadiana Valley Natural Park was created to protect part of the Guadiana river section and the surrounding plain, is one of the driest areas of the country, with an average annual rainfall of 600 mm. The south, between Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António, lies one marsh area, which acts as a “nursery” for juvenile fish and an important refuge for many species of birds.

Mértola is a tipical Portuguese village raiana the district of Beja, Alentejo region and sub-region of Alentejo, with more than 2000 inhabitants.

The village is situated on a hill on the right bank of the Guadiana River, just upstream of the confluence the Oeiras river.

It is home to one of the largest municipality of Portugal, with 1 292.87 km² of area.

The municipality is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Beja and Serpa, the east Spain, south and west by Alcoutim by Almodovar and Castro Verde.

The Mértola village is known by the São Domingos mine.