Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe

Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe
At 2 km from Serpa, the plains are cut by Alentejo´s highest hill: the Serra de São Gens.

It is here that the Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe stands, in a place known as "Altinho" ("little height").

With a simple and modest style, it doesn´t display a rich architecture or fine decorations; its beauty comes from the gleam of the white-washed walls that reflect the strong sunshine of the hot province of Alentejo.

The interior, which doesn´t receive much light, has a small altar that guards an even smaller image (about 30 cm high) of the patron saint, to whom the most important feast of the region is dedicated during Easter.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe begins on Good Friday and ends the following tuesday, at Altinho.

During these days there are fire-works, an ethnographical parade and concerts by the local choral groups.

The region´s tradition states that one should drive to the country and eat a typical Alentejo recipe: lamb stew.