In the small village of Cacela Velha, occupied over the centuries by different peoples, can be found a historical centre which includes a church of medieval origins, which was restored in the 16th and 18th centuries, and a 16th century fortress, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. The Renaissance doorway on the church façade deserves special […]
Located on the Cape of Sagres, this fortress, famous for its unparalleled beauty, owes its origins to Prince Henry the Navigator who created a town and died here in 1460. There is little left of the walls that D. Henrique ordered to be built, as the fortress was rebuilt in the 16th century and during […]
Built on top of a hill, the imposing Silves Castle is Roman in origin, but it was the Arabs who built the magnificent castle we see today, between the 8th and 13th centuries. Built of Silves sandstone, the castle has the shape of an irregular polygon and a main gate flanked by two defensive towers, […]
One of the most important archaeological sites in the south of the country is located in Alcalar, in the civil parish of Mexilhoeira Grande. Here we can explore the material remains of a megalithic community, where dozens of mortuary temples together with dwellings allow us to learn about the religious beliefs, rituals, death and daily […]
A military construction that is Arab in origin, Loulé Castle was rebuilt in the 13th century after the city was taken from the Moors by D. Paio Peres Correia. Inside, the Municipal Museum and the Municipal Document Centre can be found.
On the way in to the village to Estoi can be found the Milreu archaeological site. This is an old Roman villa, which was occupied as far back as the 1st century A. D. It had baths and a religious building built in the 4th century. And a large number of mosaics can still be […]
Paderne Castle is one of the seven castles represented on the crimson border surrounding the white shield on the coat of arms of the Portuguese flag. Built by the Arabs in the 12th century, it was taken by D. Paio Peres Correia in 1280. It is an excellent example of Muslim military architecture, being built […]
In Vilamoura, there was an important Roman villa which was built between 27 B. C. and 14 A. D. , and was occupied by Romans, Visigoths and Arabs. Here, a number of different economic activities were carried out, the most important being the manufacture of garum, a fish preserve which was exported across the entire […]
Although Phoenician in origin, the walls of Tavira were rebuilt over the course of the 11th and 12th centuries, during the Arab period. After the Christian re-conquest of the city in 1242, the walls benefited from various improvements during the reigns of D. Afonso III and D. Dinis. There are some sections of wall still […]
Built in the 14th century with the aim of defending this border region, Alcoutim castle has a long stretch of wall with defensive towers. Visitors to the castle can enjoy a magnificent view over the Guadiana river, the town of Alcoutim and the Spanish village of Sanlucar. Inside the castle, there is an opportunity to […]
This fortress was built in the 16th century in order to protect the coast from the frequent attacks by Moorish pirates. It stands on the site of an earlier medieval convent, which, legend has it, is supposed to have housed the mortal remains of São Vicente (St Vincent). It is a military construction with a […]
The Lagos town walls date back as far as the Roman period. They were rebuilt by the Arabs and considerably enlarged during the 16th century between the reigns of D. Manuel and Filipe I, because of the need to protect the growing city centre. These walls have nine towers that were built for artillery and […]