Beja

Beja is one of the most attractive towns in the Alentejo and can be explored in an afternoon, especially after a short stage from Cabeca Gorda. The 13th-14th century castle with its tall keep towers over the town and is the main draw. There's a Visigothic Museum inside the church of Santo Amaro next to the castle, though opening hours are sporadic. The Regional Museum of Beja, housed in a beautiful former convent, also merits a visit.

Beja has all services — accommodation, supermarkets, restaurants, a train station, and a bus station. It's the largest town on the Nascente between Tavira and Evora, and the last major resupply point before the long Alentejo stretch ahead.