Pilgrim walks in Beja

Walking the Paths is reliving history in the marks that the passage of time was unable to erase, it is transforming the traveler into a spectator of a narrative told through tangible and intangible heritage, lands, towns and curiosities, gastronomy, people and their customs, those who were and those who continue to be and, at the same time, becoming a participant of the same, unable to resist the charms unveiled along the way.  Knowing the Santiago Alentejo and Ribatejo Paths is more than a journey, it is an experience that leaves a mark, stays with you, and is treasured. And one that you want to repeat.

The origins of Cabeça Gorda village, by now in the municipality of Beja, are unknown. However, there are historical data showing that its creation was much earlier than Portugal’s birth, probably during the Arab occupation, which began in the year 711 AD.

Pure and hard plain, without shadows, some horses grazing, some olive trees lined up and a few planes taking off from the aerodrome, which aims to be an international airport. Beja serves as a starting point for another stage, which ends in Cuba, a town with several attractions. Right from the start, in the square where the Tourism Office is located, we discover the controversial statue of Cristóvão Colombo, by sculptor Alberto Trindade, which was inaugurated in 2006 and weighs one and a half tons.

It is a short and relatively flat stage until Beja, the capital of Baixo (Low) Alentejo. This will allow us to dedicate some time to discover its immense heritage and culture wealth and to recover from the greatest effort of the previous days. We are in the middle of the plains of Beja’s rich red lands, which have been disputed over the centuries by the various peoples who have occupied them. So don't be surprised if, along the Way, you find a team of archaeologists revealing more traces of Neolithic, Islamic or Roman Castle of Beja's Door Castle of Beja people's occupations, with many stories and legends associated.