Serpa Town is situated in Alentejo region of Portugal, 55 kilometers from Mertola. The road from Mertola to Serpa is very scenic and it passes through Guadiana Valley Natural Park. This natural park also has the Pulo do Lobo Waterfall. In the past, the town had been inhabited since the ancient times, Romans had left their marks and later Muslims added their own colours. After coming to Serpa from Mertola, I made my way into the a square. This is where Camara Municipal de Serpa (Serpa Town Hall) is situated. At first glance, Serpa looks a sleepy town but it offers a great wealth to history enthusiasts. The old town, contained within the town walls, is an atmospheric place of narrow cobbled streets. Due to it’s proximity to the Spanish border, this town has seen many battles in the past.
Serpa is famous for its cheeses and it is sold in the local market held once a month. The Clock Tower (also a bell tower) lies close to the Sepa Castle – once it was part of the castle defense system. An old windmill can also be seen from the walls of the Serpa Castle. The Church of Santa Maria is beside the Serpa Castle and this church was built on the site of a former mosque. It is still possible to make out the remains of a cylindrical base leading to believe that bell tower was once a minaret of a mosque.