Praça da República


This renovated attractive town square with a pelourinho (stone pillory) is the historic heart of the old city. Dominating the square is the 16th-century Igreja de Misericórdia, a hefty church with an immense porch – its crude stonework betrays its origins as a meat market. The Planície Dourada building features an elegant Manueline colonnade.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Centro de Arqueologia e Artes

0.02 MILES

Under construction at time of research, this new museum will house some of the great archaeological finds unearthed in Beja in recent years. Pieces date…

3. Santa Casa da Misericórdia

0.08 MILES

For a dip into history, take a stroll through the corridors of this once grand hospital. It opened back in the early 1500s (only closing to patients in…

4. Torre de Menagem

0.12 MILES

The view from the Torre de Menagem is a Beja highlight, and a great way to get your bearings over the city.

5. Castelo

0.12 MILES

Dom Dinis built this castle on Roman foundations in the late 13th century. You can climb up the Torre de Menagem for fine views over the roofs of town…

6. Museu Visigótico

0.16 MILES

Found just beyond the castle, the unusual Visigothic museum is housed in the former Igreja de Santo Amaro, parts of which date from the early 6th century,…

7. Museu Regional de Beja

0.17 MILES

Beja's must-see attraction is set in a 15th-century Franciscan convent and the backdrop to an unlikely romance between a nun and soldier that inspired…

8. Núcleo Museológico da Rua do Sembrano

0.17 MILES

This modern museum contains more than meets the eye – the exhibition is underfoot and displayed through a glass floor. Iron Age finds were discovered here…