Easy hikes and walks around Fortios

The river beach of the village of Portagem, in Marvão, is one of the most sought-after beaches by Portuguese people and also by many Spaniards due to its proximity to the border with Spain. The beach is part of a great space called Centro de Lazer da Portagem, which also has swimming pools, especially sought after on hot summer days. With a magnificent view of Marvão castle, this complex consists of three outdoor swimming pools with changing rooms (two for adults and one for children), the river beach being one of them, situated in the bed of the Sever river. This is one of the busiest spots in the municipality of Marvão, which has a lawn on one of its banks with numerous tables and benches in its vicinity so that bathers can spend pleasant hot days with their families or friends. The Leisure Centre also consists of an amphitheatre, a multi-sport court, a playground, a restaurant/bar, as well as a green park.

An old, stone-paved road leads from Portagem through cork oak forests up to Marvão. A strenuous journey in summer. The scenery is breathtaking.

A small church on the banks of the Rio Sever at the entrance to the Roman bridge, a beautiful monument for anyone interested in religious architecture.

The medieval toll tower of Portagem is said to have existed as early as 1416, but its origins probably go back even further. It has a square floor plan and was intended to guard the bridge, where tolls were collected from people and goods crossing.

The (former) river beach of Portagem is a charming spot at the foot of the Marvao mountain. In summer, when temperatures in Alentejo can rise above 40°C, it offered a refreshing escape into the cool, dammed waters of the Rio Sever. There's now a modern outdoor swimming pool across the street. A real shame, really.

Aerial view of the highlands of Portalegre and km and km of the Alto Alentejo plain.

Cruz do Cume is a small crossroads located in the Serra de São Mamede, in the district of Portalegre, in the northeast of Alentejo, near the city of Portalegre. It is located about 1 km downhill from Alto de São Mamede, which is the highest point in the mountain range at 1025 metres above sea level. This location is known as a good birdwatching spot, especially for species such as the crested tit and the linnet, and is surrounded by pine forests that are home to other birds such as the crested tit and the coal tit. Cruz do Cume also serves as a support and access point for outdoor activities, such as hiking and trail running, and is a stopover point for important races such as the Ultra Trail São Mamede (UTSM). In short, Cruz do Cume is an emblematic location in the Serra de São Mamede, valued for its nature, birdlife and relevance for mountain sports.

The City of Ammaia is the most important Roman ruin in the Northern Alentejo region. Set in the Natural Park of Serra de São Mamede, in São Salvador de Aramenha, near the town of Marvão, the ruins cover almost 25 metric acres. The Roman City of Ammaia was only rediscovered in the last century. It has since been excavated and investigated by scientists from around the world. It is now a museum site. For years the Roman remains were thought to be a villa, but only at the beginning of the last century did one begin to realize that what was buried in the Valley of Aramanha was an actual lost Roman city. Built from scratch in the first century AD, it was a city with a forum, baths and temples over the next three hundred years. The city suffered after the collapse of Rome on the Peninsula in the 3rd century. By the time of the Moorish invasion the 9th century, the remaining residents fled to high hills of Marvão - easy to defend in a time of chaos. Ammaia's stones served to build other places, walls and monuments. The bridge would stand until the 1980s. Pillaged, looted for stone, and buried until at the beginning of the twentieth century the existence of a large city in that area was forgotten. In the 1950s the first excavations were carried out and in recent decades the scope was also intensified, which also was helped by new technologies.