Description Elvas

The municipality of Elvas is limited to the north by the municipality of Arronches, to the northeast by Campo Maior, to the southeast by the municipality of Olivença, disputed by Portugal to Spain, to the east by the Spanish municipality of Badajoz, to the south by Alandroal and Vila Viçosa and to west by Borba and Monforte.

Close to the border line, Elvas struggled to maintain Portugal's independence and history. And so it became an example for all mankind.

We are welcomed in the city by a grand Aqueduct with 7 km and 843 arches, built by the same author of the Torre de Belém, in Lisbon, the architect Francisco de Arruda. The size and numbers are as impressive as what we will discover later. After all, we entered the largest bastioned fortification in the world, whose defensive structures in the shape of a star and with a perimeter of about 10 km are a unique testament to the evolution of military strategy until the 19th century. They were very important in the struggles with Spain for the Independence of Portugal, in the middle of the century. XVII, and served as a base for General Wellington, during the Napoleonic Wars, at the beginning of the century. XIX.

The fortifications of Elvas are now a World Heritage Site. The preserved military ensemble is formed by the Islamic and medieval walls and the belt of walls of the century. XVII influenced by the Dutch style of Cosmander, in addition to the Fort of Santa Luzia (17th century), the Fort of Graça (18th century) and 3 forts of the 19th century. XIX - São Mamede, São Pedro and São Domingos. If we were birds, we would see the surprising design of these structures on the ground that we can now only understand in aerial photographs or guess when we visit the monuments and enjoy the surrounding landscape.

In the heart of Elvas, the Castelo area is the oldest part of the city. From there to Praça da República, where the old Cathedral is located, now the Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, we pass by the Church of Dominica, with an original octagonal plan, the Manueline pillory and the Fernandina Tower. In these streets it is easy to identify the arches that mark the old entrances in the walls