Castro Marim is a town and a municipality in the southern region of Algarve, in Portugal. It’s set in a rolling green setting overlooking the river Guadiana’s expansion. Castro Marim, located near the Atlantic Ocean and directly over this natural border with Spain, has been strategically significant throughout history. As early as Roman times, the river here served as a demarcation between what was then Lusitania and Baetica, which would eventually become Spain and Portugal.
However, Castro Marim’s history precedes the Romans, with traces of Stone Age occupation going as far back as 5,000 BC. In those days, the landscape was somewhat different, with the settlement located closer to the sea and actually on a small island surrounded by the estuary’s shallow waters. Later, during the age of metals, Castro Marim became a harbour for Phoenician ships going up and down the coast from Alcoutim, transporting metal ores and other goods. Only in the 17th century did the village become landlocked, cut off from the river that provided its livelihood.
Castro Marim, like the majority of the Algarve, was occupied by the Moors. They protected the settlement for five centuries from a crude hilltop castle. However, in 1242, the Reconquests stormed over the province, and Afonso III’s Christian soldiers recaptured Castro Marim.
Castro Marim’s reputation as a fortress-town was cemented in the years that followed. The king’s policy was to repopulate and defend the kingdom’s recovered lands. For a strategically vital location such as Castro Marim, this meant erecting an enormous fortress, which today towers over the town. Not only physically, but also spiritually, the settlement was fortified when it became the headquarters of the Order of Christ, which was founded in 1319 to replace the Order of the Knights Templar.
Much of the Order’s activity took place at the chapel (the Igreja de Santiago) within the castle walls, and Henry the Navigator is said to have been a frequent visitor. Indeed, there is an inscription on the walls indicating that Henry, who was once the Order’s head, resided here. Regrettably, as was the case with many of the region’s historic structures, the chapel was almost completely destroyed by the 1755 earthquake.
Although the Order of Christ relocated to Tomar and the river changed course, Castro Marim’s fortunes improved somewhat in the 16th and 17th centuries with the construction of a second castle, the Fort of São Sebastião, on a neighbouring hilltop. As a result, the hamlet became the Algarve’s most significant military outpost. While entry to this fort is restricted, the final weekend of August hosts a Medieval festival that welcomes tourists.
Apart from the castles, Castro Marim is a picturesque Algarvian village with cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, and terracotta roofs. On the exterior of the immaculate tiny homes, you’ll notice an abundance of bright blue painted themes and geometric shapes.
Apart from the castle, perhaps the most famous structure is the 18th-century church, Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Mártires. The church, which is painted brilliant white in the Algarvian style, has several notable characteristics, most notably the spectacular dome and bell tower. The community also has another church, the Igreja de Misericórdia, which, while unattractive from the outside, has an excellent interior.
Castro Marim is surrounded by saltpans and the 2,000-hectare Reserva Natural do Sapal. This one-of-a-kind biological ecosystem is well known for the flamingos that visit to feed. However, it is also home to a variety of other animal and plant species. There are literally hundreds of additional bird species here, including storks, avocets, and spoonbills, several of which are year-round residents. While the shellfish are of primary relevance from a scientific standpoint, it is the rare Mediterranean chameleon that captivates the attention.
