Alentejo.
In the south of Portugal, after the Tage river, there is a vast plain which is called Alentejo. It is easy to be completely let wrap by the beauty of the landscapes, the clear expression of the harmony which could exist between the man and nature.
You will be able to follow the trace of many civilizations which coexisted on these plains and which left with the passing of years behind them of multiple memories, that constitutes a memory which enriches Portugal by today: the Roman cultures, Mudéjars and Juives passed all by this area and left their own indelible mark. Perhaps would you like to go further in the history?
Alentejo is extremely rich in archaeological remainders which testify to the various stages of the development of the man, of its history through the centuries. Do not miss cities such as Evora, classified world heritage for its 2 000 years of history, Vila Viçosa, residence of the last king of Portugal, or Beja (Pax Julia) and these more than 2000 years of history, residence of Soror Mariana, the nun Portuguese and in love who, locked up in her convent, looked at the plains of her window and wrote love letters ignited with her beautiful captain of the French Army.
Beja was an important place as of antiquity.The city was named Pax Julia by Jules César in year 48 before J.C. in the honor of the peace which it concludes with the Lusitanians.During the reign of Auguste his name became Pax Augusta.When the Visigoths seized the area, the city then called Paca became the seat of one évêché. Saint Aprígio (death towards 530) became the first bishop about it. The city was then invaded by the Omeyyades armies into 713. With the death of the last caliph de Cordoue in 1031,Beja became Taïfa, an independent Moslem principality. In 1144 the governor of Beja, Sidray ibn Wazir must face a rebellion orchestrated by Abul-Qasim Ahmad ibn Al-Husayn Al-Quasi. In 1150 the city is taken by Almohades, the army of king Alphonse Ier, by Almohades in 1175, and definitively recovered again by the king Sanche II in 1234. All these wars had decimated the population. It is only into 1521 that Beja finds the statute of city.The city will be again attacked and occupied at the time of the War of restoration opposing Portuguese to Spanish (1640-1667).The city finds its évêché in 1770.
1,618 033 988 749 894 848 204 586 834 365 638 117 720 309 179 805 762 862 135 448 622 705 260 462 189 024 497 072 072 041.