According to some authors, here existed once the Roman city of Castraleucas to other scholars of Ceciliana. Later Alcáçova suffered a Muslim invasion in 715. These conquered quickly the town, and it's name comes from that era. A toponymy that is no more than a corruption of the word Al-casba, meaning fortress or prison. It was one of the parishes depopulated during the Moorish wars of the middle centuries of the Middle Ages.
In 1258, received charter from D. Martin, bishop of Évora, and from that year onwards finally populated. Afonso III gave it new charter in 1271 and elevated it to the category of town.
D. Dinis would later rebuild Alcáçovas and build there a palace for his residence. The Manor went later to the counts of Alcáçova. As Pine Real mentions, "D. Dinis lived here many times in his palace, coming to spend the summer in this town, and often used to go have supper at the foot of the source of the county."
It is in the reign of the "Farmer King" also, the foundation of a castle, fundamental, at the time, to defend the territory from foreign attacks.
Very famous in this town, since always, has been a cottage industry of rattles. By mid-century, referred by the "Portuguese and Brazilian Grand Encyclopedia": "Alcáçova, rich producer of cereals, exports cheese and wool and has as characteristic the rattles industry, very old, that since centuries was transmitted from generation to generation in three or four families. The rattles, according to it's sizes, take the names of reboleira, picadeira, piquetes, serranas, etc.., besides the tiny, guides to the ferret.» Still today, we can say, it's an art that is slow to disappear and that is managing to maintain the same characteristics of the past.
O que fazer
- Church of the Savior of Alcáçova, churchyard and cruise
- Chapel of St. Peter
- Source of Squire's or source of the Republic Square
- Town Royal Palace
- Garden and Chapel of Our Lady
