The Church of Santa Maria, Serpa’s main church, was built on the site of a former Arab mosque during the reconstruction of the castle in the late 13th century. It is located on a raised square, alongside other buildings constructed over Islamic foundations. These structures were once protected by a strong wall, which included the keep and what is now the Clock Tower.
The church features a Mannerist façade, while the bell tower has a square exterior that surrounds a circular brick tower, likely of Arab origin. The interior consists of three naves separated by pointed arches resting on clusters of columns. The main chapel dates from the mid-16th century, and the side chapels, adorned with Baroque woodwork, were added in the 17th century.