Nisa and Belver

Becoming familiar with Nisa requires 3 obligatory visits: going round the mediaeval wall between Porta (gate) da Vila and Porta de Montalvão, observing the fashioning of pottery decorated with stone and visiting a cheese dairy. The mediaeval wall presents no problems.

The gates never close and the visit is well covered in the Tourist Itinerary of the town. To see how the pottery decorated with stone is made is quite easy. The best way is to go to the shop Graça Louro in Praça da República and find out the possibility of visiting their workshop; or try visiting the workshops of António Pequito (Rua 25 de Abril, 72) or of António Carita (Estrada de Montalvão). If you would rather book a visit, the Tourism Office can help you and can also show you other examples of Nisa handicrafts, like the embroidery and lace.

Belver constitutes a small Alentejan enclave on the north bank of the Tagus. Climbing up to the castle, it is not difficult to imagine how important it must have been in those times when the frontier between the Christian north and the Muslim south was still the river itself. It is thought its foundation is due to D. Frei

Afonso Pais, Prior of the Order of Knights Hospitalers, later of Malta, to which D. Sancho 1 endowed the neighbouring lands at the end of the 12th century. It was already built by 1212 and was ordered to be rebuilt in 1390 by the Constable D. Nuno Álvares Pereira. In the castle precincts is the Chapel of S. Brás, from the

16th century and simply not to be missed. It has a curious altar-piece carved in wood with the image of the patron in the centre, accompanied by 28 more niches which housed relics in former times. Visiting times: 09.30-12.30, 14.00-17.00 in the winter and 09.30-12.30, 14.00-17.30 in the summer. Closed on Monday.

In the central square of the town is the Parish Church of Nossa Senhora da Visitação, founded in the 16th century. At the end opposite the castle is the lovely chapel of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, constructed towards the end of the 17th century and recently restored. In the interior, which has a single nave with a semicircular, vaulted ceiling, outstanding is the altar area decorated with frescoes.