Castelo de Serpa (Serpa Castle)
Serpa Castle (Castelo de Serpa), is a mostly ruined castle, located in the historic town of Serpa in the Alentejo region of south east Portugal, not far from the Spanish border.
History
The town of Serpa is slightly raised from the plain and it is here in the walled center of the old town that the rambling castle can be found.
Damaged by an explosion in the powder magazine during the War of Spanish Succession (1701-14) the Castelo and its fortifications were originally built by King Dinis after the Moors were finally expelled from Serpa and its environs in 1232 by King Sancho II.
Generally square in shape, the castle in Serpa originally had three gates: the Porta de Moura, in the north east, the Porta de Beja, in the north west and the Porta de Sevilha in the south. The latter no longer exists.
Serpa Castle was also attacked in 1580 by invading Spanish troops and fell being able to offer little resistance due to its small garrison. After the end of the War of Spanish Succession the castle fell into disrepair and reconstruction and repair only began in the 20th century.
Now the castle offers spectacular views from its battlements and it is possible to walk along certain sections of the walls.
The Torre do Relógio (Clock Tower) dates from the 15th century and is one of the oldest such towers in the country. It was once part of the city walls built by the Moors
Access
Castelo de Serpa
Largo dos Santos Proculo E Hilariao
Serpa 7830-385