Elvas
The city of Elvas is located near the border between Portugal and Spain and is on the main highway between Lisbon and Madrid.
There are two main impressive visual sights linked to this city. Firstly, the well-preserved
17th Century fortifications around the old part, and secondly, the impressive Auqueduto de Amoreira. Designed on the principles of the French architect Marquis
de Vauban, the old town is completely surrounded by a series of strong walls
that strategically provide protection from every angle of attack.
The Aqueduct
is older in origin as the need to supplement the original town’s water supply was already acute in the 15th Century. Work was started in 1498 but it took over 124 years to complete this 8 kilometers long construction with 843 arches that in some places reaches 30 metres in height. The origin of the castle within the old town is remote but it recorded as being rebuilt in 1226 and later subject to further alterations and enlargement during the following centuries.
The surrounding area is famed for its production of quality plums which are then conserved in a honey mixture.
Facts - Sights - History - Map
| Region: |
Alentejo |
 |
| Sub-region: |
Alto Alentejo |
| District: |
Portalegre |
| Inhabitants (2001): |
15 500 (City); 23 361 (District) |
| Parishes (11): |
Ajuda, Salvador e Santo Ildefonso (Elvas), Alcáçova (Elvas), Assunção (Elvas), Barbacena, Caia e São Pedro (Elvas), Santa Eulália, São Brás e São Lourenço, São Vicente e Ventosa, Terrugem, Vila Boim, Vila Fernando |
| Area: |
631,04 km² |
| Altitude: |
300 mts |
| Coordinates: |
38º52'N 7º09'W |
| Municipality: |
Câmara Municipal de Elvas; R. Isabel Maria Picão; 7350-953 Elvas |
- Elvas Castle: Romano-Moorish in origin, Elvas
Castle was rebuilt for King Sanco III in 1226. A walk around
the top of the town's battlements gives a fine view of the old
town and a vantage point from which to appreciate the ingenious
design of the fortifications.
- Walls from the 17th century: the encompassing walls from the 17th century are monuments that still impress by its greatness and stability. On this wall there were three main doors named Esquina, Olivença and S. Vicente that used to be locked at midnight and opened at dawn
Meanwhile, on the fifties, and with the purpose of making the communication between the "inside wall" town and the new quarters "outside wall" easier, a viaduct and an opening were built.
- Ajuda Bridge: built on the 16th century, and besides the disastrous destruction during the Peninsular Wars, one can still see this bridge’s grandiosity.
The bridge, 400 meters long and 5.5 meters large, used the support in 19 bows and on the centre there was a fortified tower with three floors, kept by two doors.
- Church of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos: The plain exterior of the Church hides the fact that it was originally a Templar church. The interior is lined with 17th Century tiles that reach into the cupola.
- Cathedral Nossa Senhora da Assunção: The French architect Marquis
de Vauban designed the Cathedral Nossa Senhora da Assunção that has been remodelled several times.
- Manueline Pillory: with its hooks as a morbid reminder of punishment in older times.
- Bastion of São João da Carujeiro:Located within the bastion of São João da Carujeiro on the eastern wall of the castle is perhaps the oldest British military cemetery in Europe. Plaques record the British Regiments that took place at the battle of Albuhera in 1811.
- Caia’s Dam: opened to sportive fishing, responsible for the introduction on the local gastronomy of tasty fishing dishes, it also allows the practice of non motor water sports. With a dazzling scenical beauty, its shores offer shaded retreats that invite the visitor to rest, and several tracks to take a walk.
- Market Day:Every second week of the month
Nearby:
- Juromenha: To the south of Elvas on the River Guadiana is the small village of Juromenha that was once a reasonably large fortified town. Within the standing walls there is nothing but ruins to testify to the one-time importance of this fortification. There is a legend that the name of the place has been taken from the sister of the local Lord who was disgraced by his sister’s amorous involvements so he locked her in the main tower of the castle until she went mad and eventually died.
- Ouguela: To the north near to the Spanish border is the small-fortified town of Ouguela. History records a romantic defense of this town when in the Battle of Toro the decision of who was to be the owner of the castle was decided by a fight between the two opposing leaders in a duel where they both died. Later in 1762 Brás de Carvalho also defeated the Spanish with a heroic defense of the town.
- Two surviving satellite forts: Forte de Graça and Forte de Santa Luzia (to the north and south-east of the town, respectively) indicate the strategic importance of Elvas over the centuries.
Believed to
have been originally developed as a location by the Romans the city has suffered
many battles in its history and was liberated from the occupying Moors in 1229.
Since this date and for a following period of some 600 years numerous attacks
or peace treaties between the neighbouring countries governed its fate. During
the War of Independence between the two countries (1640-1668), the battle of
Linhas de Elvas in 1659 was notable for the decisive defeat of the invading
Spanish who had besieged the Portuguese army in the town and was successfully
relieved by Portuguese troops from Estremoz. In its more recent history its
claim to fame was when it was used by the Duke of Wellington as his headquarters
in his siege of the close Spanish town of Badajos.
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Information
This page shows basic information. It is regularly updated. There is no guarantee for the correctness and completeness of the given facts.
