| Only 5km to the north of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Castro Marim is perhaps most famous for its rich military history. The town is dominated by the imposing ruins of a large castle that once belonged to the Knights of Christ, formerly known as the Knights Templar. Castro Marim was the headquarters of the Order for many years until it relocated to the town of Tomar, north of Lisbon. |
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| The castle retains its formidable exterior battlement walls and some of its towers. Inside you can find the ruins of earlier fortifications dating back to the Moorish period and some dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Medieval spectacles and banquets are regularly staged at the castle during the summer season. The area around the town is now a nature reserve, the Reseva Natural do Sapal, and from the castle ramparts, you can take in splendid views over the River Guadiana, the salt pans, the hills and, of course, the ocean. |
| The town itself is little more than a village, but there are several pleasant eating houses and a number of traditional bars. |
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