Festival Islâmico de Mértola

The Mértola Islamic Festival started through the years of archaeological work done about Mértola's history and patrimony, many of it related to the Islamic period. The findings were abundant, which determined that Mértola was of great importance during this determinative era of Portugal's history. The town was a trading and market place for many cultures, and, in 2001, Municipality, in association with local vendors and other associations, decided to start the very first edition of the Islamic Festival. This event started as a museological and academic affair but gradually became also a very relevant tourist attraction, impacting the local economy. The Festival happens every two years.