Castro Marim Castle - Phoenician Trading Post

A hilltop fortress with archaeological evidence spanning Neolithic to medieval periods. The Iron Age settlement (7th-3rd c. BC) shows "intense relationships with the Mediterranean, with emphasis on Western Phoenicia." The on-site museum displays Phoenician-Punic amphorae and ceramics. Views over the Guadiana River and Spanish border.

What to do there

5 things to do

1. 1 Climb the Walls Where Templars Hid From France History · Price: low

   When France burned the Knights Templar at the stake in 1312, Portugal's king saved the survivors. He created the Order of Christ and made THIS castle their first headquarters. The same order later funded Vasco da Gama and Henry the Navigator.

   Pay the absurd 1.10 euro entrance fee. Climb the parapet for 360-degree views over the Guadiana River (the Portugal-Spain border), salt pans, and distant sea. Find the 14th-century Santa Maria do Castelo church inside the walls. The on-site museum has actual Phoenician amphorae from excavations.

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2. 2 Float in 2,700-Year-Old Salt Pans Adventure · Price: low

   The Phoenicians worked these salt pans before the Romans or Arabs existed here. Now there's a spa where you float in the exact same brine, Dead Sea style, for 8 euros.

   Drive 5 minutes to SPA Salino in the nature reserve. Pay 8 euros for the salt float plus 3 euros for the mineral mud treatment. Float in artisanal salt ponds fed by the same salt pans the Phoenicians harvested 2,700 years ago. Bring a towel. Open summer months only. Allow 1.5 hours minimum.

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3. 3 Spot the First Flamingos Ever Born in Portugal Adventure · Free

   In 2021, flamingos bred here for what is believed to be the FIRST TIME EVER in Portugal. 550 chicks hatched in the nature reserve below the castle.

   Walk to the Revelim de Santo Antonio viewpoint (free entry) for the best combined view of marshlands and flamingos. Or follow the 5.7km Cerro do Bufo signposted trail from the northern edge of the saltpans. Best time: early morning or one hour before sunset. Bring binoculars.

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4. 4 Eat the Cataplana That Has Not Changed in Centuries Wine · Price: moderate

   A cataplana is a sealed copper pot shaped like a clamshell. Castro Marim's version comes packed with an entire lobster. This is not tourist mush.

   Book O Infante restaurant in advance (fills fast on Sundays). Order the cataplana for two at 45 euros with a bottle of local Tavira DOC Negra Mole. This is Portugal's second oldest grape variety, and it grows on the same soil the Phoenicians farmed. Ask for Flor de Sal from Salmarim to finish - hand-harvested fleur de sel from 50 metres away.

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5. 5 Watch the Salt Pans Turn Pink at Sunset Adventure · Free · Optional

   From the castle parapet at golden hour, the salt pans below reflect the sky and turn pink, gold, and crimson. The Guadiana River catches the last light. Spain glows on the other side.

   Return to the castle one hour before sunset. Walk the western parapet. The salt pans are directly below. When the salinity spikes in summer, they turn almost Photoshop-pink even before sunset hits. Bring your phone. This is the shot.

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Insider tips

• The barbican houses the archaeological museum - included in ticket

• Hours: Oct-Mar 9am-5pm; Apr-Sep 9am-7pm

• Part of a protected natural reserve along the Guadiana River