® Miguel Rolo
Mértola: A refuge for the
Lesser Kestrel
The town of Mértola is home to the last urban colony of a rather rare and threatened species – the lesser kestrel (Falco naumani). The walls and castle as well as other historic structures are the ideal shelter for the town’s most emblematic
species.
Blue rock thrush
During the night it’s easy to see and hear the barn owl and the
short-eared owl. Both species often nest on the walls and towers of the castle.
As we near the river, you can sometimes see otters and two
species of tortoises, one of them quite rare in a national context - the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis.
European otter
iIustrações| ilustration ® Marcos
Along an itinerary through the town, along the riverbanks
and the surrounding forest up to the Herdade da Bombeira
vineyards you can still see white stork, jackdaw, rock thrush,
magpie, bee-eater, litte egret, grey heron, kingfisher or
blackbird. The Bonelli’s nests close along the cliffs of the river Guadiana.
Bonelli’s Eagle
INFO
10km itinerary
 Tourism Office
 EN122
 Walking/By Car
Itinerary
From the parking space near the historic centre of Mértola Mértola, take the road N122 towards the Algarve. Just
outside the parking space you can find a viewpoint with great views of the scarps of Oeiras river. The bridge on the
left has several artificial nests of lesser kestrel. If you can, please walk along the road until the bridge. It has a great
spot to view of the old wall surrounding the village and a good place to observe lesser kestrel, jackdaw, azurewinged magpie and blue rock thrush. Then go along the N122 and turn left to Poço dos Dois Irmãos. From here
you can continue your way by car or take the walking path (about 10 km roundtrip) until the Herdade da Bombeira’s gates.
Bird List
Mértola Tourism Office | CONTACT
00 351 286 610 109 | [email protected]
Cattle Egret
House Martin
Tour suggestion
Little Egret
Winter Wren
Mértola Old Town |
Grey Heron
Rufus-tailed Scrub Robin
White Stork
Robin
Montagu’s Harrier
Blue Rock Thrush
Bonelli’s Eagle
Blackbird
Lesser Kestrel
Cetti’s Warbler
Little Plover
Reed Warbler
Spotted Cuckoo
Dartford Warbler
Barn Owl
Sardinian Warbler
Tawny Owl
Golden Oriole
Long-eared Owl
Azure-winged Magpie
Kingfisher
Jackdaw
Bee-eater
Spotless Starling
Hoopoe
Spanish Sparrow
Thekla Lark
Bullfinch
Crag Martin
Hawfinch
Red-rumped Swallow
Rock Bunting
Birds
The historic village stands high on a
rugged hilltop above the Guadiana River. Narrow cobbled streets
wind upward through picturesque white buildings. You can spent
a pleasant time here exploring the various museums and archaeological sites.
Parish Church & Castle|Mértola’s striking parish church
is most well known because in former incarnation it was a
mosque. It was consecrated as a church in the 13th century.
While visiting please look out for an unwhite-washed cavity in the
wall, behind the altar, in former times this served as the
mosque’s mihrab (prayer niche). Above the church loom’s Mértola’s fortified castle, most of which dates also from the 13th
century. From its prominent tower, there are fabulous views. This
is also a great place for birdwatching.
Wine & Tapas |
Try one of our local wines alongside some
sheep cheese or smoked ham. We suggest the Bombeira’s wine
produced on the vineyards just outside Mértola.
Boat Trip Guadiana River |
Come and enjoy an unforgettable day, cruising along the Guadiana river. Different itineraries, unique landscape, wildlife, birdwatching and culture. Reach
our Tourism Office for more information.