The archaeological excavations also have revealed silos in indoor and outdoor fortification, where was exhumed a rich set of ceramic fragments dating from the X-XI centuries. The analysis of organic remains concluded that Islamic populationsMesas do Castelinho – “Castelinho Desks” would in hunting the main power supply, which also points to a little sedentary community, possibly warriors functions. Could it is originally a military trim, in proximity of which was installed or an existing grown rural community.

The various archaeological campaigns in this archaeological site have identified the presence of several fortifications (though without cistern, perhaps due to the proximity of a water mine) built between the Iron Age and the Umayyad period when they erected a watchtower surrounded by a moat , at a time when the town of occupation have taken a sharp permanence character after the Republican Roman period have left traces on the site diversified its full activity. The evidence gathered during the excavations seem, however, point to the presence of the oldest occupations, which remontarão the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age the end.

The museum is housed in the old building Municipal Movie Theatre, in the historic center of Almodovar. It opened to the public on September 29, 2007.

The museum’s permanent collection has about 20 pieces, including a permanent estate of 16 stelae discovered in the archaeological heart of Almodovar.

Its most remarkable part is the Estela de São Martinho – “Stele of St. Martin”, found in the archaeological site of São Marcos da Serra, in Silves, about 60 signs, considered one of the most extensive written submissions from tartéssica or Conia.

At the time of the Christian Reconquista of the peninsula belonged to the Master of the Order of Santiago, with letter charter granted by Dinis of Portugal on 17 April 1285. Through this document were provided great privileges, among them “the people do not pay part in any toll “or” the village cattle and his term pay mounts “as established in the Livro de Regimento de Verdes e Montados “Rules book of Greens and mounted”.

Later, Manuel I of Portugal, on June 1, 1512 granted the Foral New to the village, confirming and extending the privileges granted by D. Dinis.

The Ourique Foundation is traditionally dated 711, the year of entry of Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula. However, several factors point to a rearmost existence.

Several settlements since prehistoric times, locations documented by various archaeological campaigns are known. From the Paleolithic, Chalcolithic, Iron Age and Bronze, the proto-historic presence, Roman, Celtic, Arab, a large number of people crossed these lands.
As for the origin of the place name of Ourique, it may be between Gold (by proximity to gold-bearing holdings) and Orik (the Arabic word for misfortune, following the Moorish defeat in the Battle of Ourique).

It should also Muslims will the building of Ourique Castle, legendary military structure and that still fills memories. This castle will, in all likelihood, alternating several times between the Crescent and the Cross, depending on the sort of weapons. The reconquest of the times would have an essentially defensive watchtower role, with the advance guard the Castro da Cola. One of the most important references to this fortification is made by the Arab chronicler Ahmed Benmohmed Arrazi that in the tenth century, refers to him as one of the strongest of Beja term.

The geographical and strategic importance of Ourique and its territory, or term, is recognized over the centuries, so it has always played in the South most importantly military and commercial paper, while connecting with the valley of the Sado and the Algarve hills.
Thus constituted as one of the central components in the conquest of territory from the Muslims, having witnessed the famous Battle of Ourique.

The Battle of Ourique, Ourique occurred in the fields to July 25, 1139, it was decisive for the independence of Portugal. Led by Afonso Henriques, the Christian troops conquered with great difficulty Muslims led by the governor of Santarém.

According to legend, before the melee Christ have appeared to Afonso Henriques, guaranteeing victory, relying on religious motivations that drove our Prince. Thus, the battle that would follow was, in a way, protected by divine power. The victory across the board against the “five Moorish kings”, allowed then and in the open field of battle, Afonso Henriques was acclaimed by his army as King of Portugal.

At the time of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, the town and its castle were first conquered or by troops under the command of D. Afonso Henriques (1112-1185) or by the group under the command Geraldo Sem-Pavor in raid promoted in 1166 the territory beyond the river Guadiana.

He returned to the Muslim possession when the great offensive Almohad Abu Yusuf Ya’qub al-Mansur to the river Tagus (1191), when Christians remained in power only of Évora, in the Alentejo. Later, the forces of King Sancho II recover these lands, with Serpa won in 1232 and its areas delivered to Ferdinand, brother of the sovereign.

The castle stands in the center of the village, the two hundred and thirty meters above the sea level. At the highest level, by the wall on the north deploys to fortress, of square plan.

About the village has oval plant, reinforced by turrets and square and semicircular plant towers, topped by merlons prismatic. It was originally tore three monumental gates (Moura Gate, northeast, Beja Port, northwest and Seville port south, the latter now defunct) flanked by two beveled round towers, these merlons with pentagonal shot. The west cloth of the walls is topped by an aqueduct based on arcade go round, joining the Counts of Palace Ficalho, on the north side and a giant daughter based on a well, next to the southeast angle, built in the seventeenth century to supply the palace. In period opened the Door of Corredoura and the New Port.

The wall of the fortress is reinforced by the Keep, of square plan, adjoining south cloth, left to bottom; by a semicircular plant cubelo the same side and a rectangular plan tower in the southeast corner, next to which is still visible part of the Barbican involved. There is installed the Archaeological Museum of Serpa, exposing the evidence recovered in County region, the Paleolithic, Neolithic, of the Metal Age and Roman times.

In the square border to the Church of Santa Maria (old Muslim Mosque) stands the so-called Clock Tower, of square plan, where stands the bell, with tapered shot of pinnacles surrounded by merlons bevelled. Trace the fence of the village, was transformed into watch in 1440, becoming the third watch tower oldest in the country.

Its original building dates back to the fourteenth century, probably having been performed on an ancient Arab mosque.

Outside, it highlights the impressive entrance portal and its side pillars, which support two images of St. Peter and St. Paul. Sports, still, a bell square tower on the left. The current structure of the quadrangular bell tower houses inside an old cylindrical structure, which may have been the ancient minaret mesquita.

The interior consists of three naves, divided by arches supported by columns. The side chapels have examples of gilt, witnessing the decorative richness of the Baroque. The main chapel, dominating the whole set, the date of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In the remaining decoration, stand out even a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, images of Christ and other vegetal, animal and human elements.

The Muslim core, called the Castelo Velho “Old Castle”, corresponds to the oldest district of the metropolis, distinguished by irregular flatness of the streets. It was here that the Arabs built the fortress and its mosque, whose foundations would be located where the Christian power built the Church of Santa Maria.

With the final conquest of low-Alentejo town in 1230, won by Templar troops, the urban fabric of Serpa get to know a gradual development. Finally, it regained in 1242 in the reign of D. Sancho II and settled in 1295 by King Dinis, during which it is designed the first charter, restoring the castle and builds a large curtain walls, who took part the walled structure of the Islamic citadel.

This rectangular enclosure corresponding to the walls, was gradually occupied by medieval houses. However, the fourteenth century has brought a slowdown in growth, and only in the late fifteenth century and during the sixteenth century, the growing population center, expanding out of the walls, with the creation of the parish of Salvador. This period is again renovated the castle.

The enclosure of medieval walls, although currently severely damaged can still be rebuilt.

Serpa was already populated before the domain of the Romans, however these were that fomented the county, especially at the farm level. In 1166 it was conquered from the Moors by D. Afonso Henriques, and was lost several times in the constant struggles of the Reconquista.

It was definitely established as a county by D. Dinis, who also sent rebuild your castle and Serpa surround by a ring of walls, in 1295.

Its location, close to the Spanish border, caused serious problems for the development of this county. In the Wars of Restoration, Serpa was almost completely destroyed, including its stronghold.

In a more recent phase, the City Council has made restoration work, which included the laying of hands on the clock. The hours are still marked by family chimes of the bell.

The tower was also provided with a lighting system. In your figure the night wins a gold and impressive brightness, especially in the middle of the village houses.

The clock tower is a rectangular building, with a spiral staircase that leads to a guard with grilhagem bricks. Has an ornate on each side and in the middle guard shack that houses the bell Navigator. The Clock Tower conserves the browser memory Vasco da Gama, once the bell, with the arms of Gama family, was offered to the town by the Count of Vidigueira.

Member of the Guadiana line in the thirteenth century, the castle, which remain in the ruins of the keep, have been adapted to house the Counts of Vidigueira.

At the time of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, the town was conquered by the Portuguese forces, under the reign of Sancho II (1223-1248) in 1235. However, the first documented reference on Vidigueira date 1255, at which time , and founded the Monastery of St. Cucufate, their parish was established and set its limits, making up this scripture mention of this village.