4 Best Sights in Serpa, Évora and the Alentejo

Serpa's 11th-century aqueduct forms an integral part of the walls of the 13th-century castle, from which there's a stunning view of town. The huge ruined sections of wall tottering precariously above the entrance are the result of explosions ordered by the Duke of Osuna during the 18th-century War of the Spanish Succession.

This impressive structure from the 11th century used to ferry water to Serpa from wells in the countryside. In the 17th century, a wheel pump was added just outside the city's southern walls, and still stands there today. Follow the aqueduct's walls from the pump out across the city's west side.

This little gem of a museum located inside the castle walls has light-filled rooms displaying artifacts from Serpa dating from the Paleolithic to the Islamic period. The first floor covers the Prehistoric Period to the Iron Age, and the top floor houses artifacts from the Roman era, Late Antiquity, and the Moorish era. Artifacts include pottery, parts of marble and stone columns, coins, and jewelry. New features include kiosks featuring films by a local filmmaker.

Housed in a 16th-century convent, this quirky little museum displays a collection of thousands of clocks, with a permanent exhibition titled "400 Years of Clock-Making in Portugal." There's also a workshop where you can watch experts repairing old clocks, or bring in your own to be tinkered with.