Póvoa de São Miguel is a Portuguese village in the municipality of Moura, located on the left bank of the Guadiana River, midway along the road connecting Moura and Mourão.

The village sits on an elevated point, offering views of Monsaraz Castle. The Zebro stream, now part of a branch of the Alqueva reservoir, passes near the village.

The parish of Póvoa de São Miguel also includes Aldeia da Estrela, a village completely surrounded by the Alqueva reservoir, which is one of the region’s main tourist attractions.

The origins of Póvoa de São Miguel date back to the late 14th century, following the Lei das Sesmarias (Land Allocation Law) issued in 1375 by King Fernando I to encourage people to settle in rural areas. During this period, the Black Death had devastated European cities, causing a labor shortage in urban areas and triggering an exodus from the countryside. This depopulation left fields abandoned, resulting in shortages of cereals and other agricultural products.

As a historical note, the village had around 240 inhabitants in 1527, according to a census by King João III, and by 2001, the population had grown to 1,100.

The village was officially called Póvoa, but for many years locals referred to it as Póvoa de São Miguel in honor of its patron saint. This name was officially adopted in 1988.

Festivals
São Miguel: September 28–30

Points of Interest

• Main Church of Póvoa de São Miguel
• Church of Nossa Senhora da Estrela
• Water mills
• Covered sheds (Telheiros)
• Moorish chimneys
• Dolmens (Antas at Herdade das Antas and Vale Formoso)
• Antela (Herdade do Judeu)
• Santa Ana Fountain (Herdade dos Ourives)
• Monte (Herdade do Pombal)
• Circular schist corbelled enclosures (Malhadas circulares de abóbada em xisto)