Mértola and the Mina de São Domingos Mine: Historic sites in Alentejo

Mértola is a small fortified village on the banks of the Guadiana River next to the Algarve mountains. Mina de São Domingos is the old mine site that gave life to the Alentejo interior.

Upon arriving in Mértola, we immediately see, at the top of its hill and with an imposing air, the old castle and its walls. The mine is close by and will also impress.

Mértola has as its entry point, a narrow bridge, over a tributary of the Guadiana River. At this point, observe the grandeur of its castle and its walls. These, which once served as protection for the population due to their strategic interest, are today a point of tourist interest that brings many foreigners to the town. Walking through the streets of the Vila-Museu is taking a trip to the past, towards discovering the traces of the presence of great civilizations.

Despite the importance that this town had in the past, due to its port and later the discovery of the deposit and the exploration of the São Domingos Mine, it is currently quite calm and very far from the hustle and bustle of large urban centres and the mass tourism of the Algarve. Its climate invites you to take peaceful walks through its alleys, always focusing on the castle, which at the top, dominates the entire surrounding landscape.

Walking to discover the banks of the river on sunny and torrid days is a very refreshing experience. In an area a little further north of Mértola, passing by its school, you can take a good dip in the Guadiana River, in a calmer and shallower area of the river, formed by its water mills and restored as a leisure and picnic park. 

When visiting Alentejo you need to enjoy its gastronomy. In Mértola there are many restaurants to choose from and there is no shortage of good suggestions for tasting the specialties of this little corner of Alentejo. Migas, gazpachos, wild boar, lamb, black pork, cheeses, sausages, river fish dishes and all other specialities abound on the menus of the various restaurants.

A few miles from Mértola is a small oasis in the middle of a dry Alentejo with always high temperatures during spring and summer. Following the N265 road, the small village of Mina de São Domingos has its Tapada Grande River Beach right at the entrance. This river beach has entertainment, sand, water sports, a beach bar, shade and lots and lots of water. This is a place to enjoy as much as you can.

Be sure to also visit the mine village itself as it is an open-air museum. In every house, you will find a bit of history as they were the residence of former workers. Also, visit the entire exploration area of the old São Domingos Mine, visit the Museum and the Mineiro’s house located in the small village.

The route where the exploration was located must be done by car, motorbike or mountain bike as it is several miles long. This follows what was the first private train line in Portugal and which connected Mina de São Domingos village to Pomarão village (on the navigable banks of the Guadiana River). The entire area of the mine and the route that follows the old line is devoid of vegetation and the ruins of the old factories that processed the ore extracted from the mine are visible.

Also interesting is a visit to the mining village of Pomarão, where the train line ended and where the ore was transported to ships to then continue to its destination. In this area, you can still see some of the mechanisms used and walk through the tunnels through which the train passed.

In addition to other Alentejo villages worth visiting, we highlight in this article, due to its proximity to Mértola and Mina de São Domingos village, the Pulo do Lobo waterfall. It is located just a few miles away and is a great attraction for those exploring the stunning landscapes of the Guadiana Valley Natural Park. The waterfall is formed in a narrower area of the Guadiana River that, according to legend, a hunting wolf crosses it in a single jump.

Currently, Pulo do Lobo has a parking lot, picnic tables and a small viewpoint that allows you to see the waterfall formed on the rocks.

There are not many hotels in this region, but currently, there are many accommodation houses.

We have already stayed at the Hotel Beira Rio located right inside the town of Mértola and also at the Alentejo Star Hotel in Mina de São Domingos village. The latter is located in the old mine administration palace, next to the mine and the river beach.

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