The Castle of Borba (Portuguese : Castelo de Borba) is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Borba, municipality of Borba, Portuguese district of Evora.
Archaeological evidence dates the early human occupation of Borba site back to the Gallo-Celtic tribes, occupied successively until the time of the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula.
During the Christian reconquest of the peninsula, the town was taken by King Alfonso II (1211-1223) from the Moors in 1217. For its settlement and defense, the sovereign donated these domain to the Order of Aviz, encouraging the construction of the castle.
Because the region was in disputed territory with the Kingdom of Castile, under the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), Borba definitely came into the possession of Portugal because of the signing of the Treaty of Alcanises in 1297. Due to its strategic importance, the king granted it a Foral charter in 1302, by which time he ordered the strengthening of defenses. King Manuel I (1495-1521) confirmed the town's charter. [1]
In the Portuguese Restoration War, the town acquired strategic importance on the border As noted with other defensive structures in Portugal, the expansion of the urban area from the nineteenth century led to the integration of the medieval walls in houses. In the mid-twentieth century, the IGESPAR branch of the national government classified the castle as a site of Public Interest by Decree published on 18 July 1957. [2] [3]
The castle has quadrangular shape according to its site plans. Its walls are constructed using stone masonry, topped by battlements in Gothic style. Its top is covered, in whole extension, by a battlement. The entrance gate is defended by two semi-circular plant turrets that surround a keep. On the exterior, originally, there was a moat. [4]
The Castle of Lagos is a medieval castle located in the municipality of Lagos, Portugal. Its walls surrounded the entire city of Lagos, providing the town its main means of defence.
Castelo de Montel is a castle in Portugal. It is classified by IGESPAR as a Site of Public Interest.
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The Castle of Serpa is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Serpa, in the municipality of Serpa, Portuguese district of Beja.
The Castle of Sernancelhe is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Sernancelhe e Sarzeda, municipality of Sernancelhe, in the Portuguese district of Viseu.
The Castle of Lindoso is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Lindoso, municipality of Ponte da Barca, in the Portuguese district of Viana do Castelo.
The Castle of Tavira is a medieval castle located in the parish of Santiago, Tavira municipality, Faro district of Portugal. In a dominant position over the mouth of the river Gilão, the settlement has developed as an important sea port since antiquity, with its predecessors dating back to the 8th century BC, passing through the hands of Phoenicians, Greeks, Celts, Carthaginians, Romans, Moors and the Portuguese crown.
The Castle of Belmonte is a medieval castle located in the municipality of Belmonte, Castelo Branco district in Portugal.
The Castle of Fontalva is a medieval castle located in the Elvas municipality, Portalegre District of Portugal.
The Castle of Portel is a medieval castle located in the municipality of Portel in the district of Evora in Portugal.
The Castle of Santarém is a medieval castle located in the city of Santarém in the Portuguese county and district of Santarém.
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The Citânia de Santa Luzia is an archaeological site of the Castro culture located in the Portuguese civil parish of Areosa in the municipality of Viana do Castelo. Its construction dates from the Iron Age, and it shows evidence of occupation during the Roman period. The Castro was first dug in 1876 by Joaquim Possidonio Narciso da Silva. Only about one third of the structures have been dug, with the remaining part being under or destroyed during the construction of the nearby hotel, church, and respective roads. The site also included a possibly medieval chapel dedicated to Saint Lucy which persisted, after some reconstructions, until 1926 when it was destroyed to give way to the Saint Lucy Church of Miguel Ventura Terra.