BEJA, town in Portugal, 95m. S.S.E. of Lisbon by railway; it is probably the ancient Pax Julia. Pop. (1931) Beja is an episcopal city on an isolated hill, and partly enclosed by walls of Roman origin with fine Roman south gateway. The citadel, with its beautiful Gothic tower of white marble, was founded by King Dinis 0279-1325). Grain and fruit are grown and cattle and pigs are bred on the Campo de Beja, plains around the city; copper, iron and manganese are mined to a small extent, and Beja is the central market for all these products. Cloth, pottery and olive oil are manufactured in the city.
The administrative district of Beja coincides with the southern part of Alentejo (q.v.) ; pop. (1930) 240,465; area, 3,958 square miles.