What to see in Almeida, beautiful town and historic village (Portugal)

A trip along the route of the Historical Villages of Portugal has in the beautiful town of Almeida one of the stages to include.

It is a beautiful villa located in the district of La Guarda, on a plateau above the Côa River, about 12 km from the border with Spain in the Central region of Portugal.

I already tell you that it is going to surprise you because it is a fortified citadel Double hexagonal plant with the shape of a twelve-point star.

It has twelve bastions, reinforcement towers, slopes, three vaulted doors open in a tunnel and a moat 12 meters deep and 60 meters wide along a walled area of ​​about 2.500 meters that you can explore on foot.

This structure of stronghold You can also find it in other Portuguese cities such as Elvas or in Valencia do Minho.

History of Almeida in Central Portugal

En Almeida There are already vestiges of its existence since the paleolithic, but it is during the Arab settlement when the place is called “Al Meda”, which means the table, possibly alluding to the plateau on which the population was established.

There is a legend The name says it comes from a table that formerly existed in the area, which was full of embedded precious stones.

In the 1640s Almeida It was of great importance, like all the towns that bordered Spain, since incursions from both sides were constant.

The population grew by about a small castle built in the 8th century that was owned by the Kingdom of Leon during the Middle Ages, and that for the Treaty of Alcañices In 1297 he passed to Kingdom of Portugal, time in which said castle was rebuilt.

Along the history, Almeida suffered innumerable sieges, as during the seven years war in 1762, or the Peninsular War in 1810.

During the latter, the siege caused a powder magazine to explode when a French projectile hit a barrel of gunpowder that some soldiers were transporting.

The explosion destroyed the medieval castle in which the gunpowder was stored, in addition to much damage to the population, killing more than 500 people who defended the fort.

Almeida Fort Square in Portugal

The current structure of the Almeida Fort Square dates back to the 17th century, during the Portuguese Restoration War, when for more than a century this town became a practically impregnable fortress.

In the season of maximum historic splendor Almeida, its fortification sheltered 5.000 men and had more than one hundred cannons of different calibers.

There were bomb-proof compartments, false doors to deceive invaders, and underground casemates in which both the garrison and civilians took refuge while the bombing lasted.

El interior of the fortified citadel It is very well preserved, with a hamlet of white houses, two temples, a convent and several baroque palaces.

It really is easy to travel to another era by walking through its narrow streets.

What to see when visiting Almeida in Portugal

Below we highlight some of the places you can visit in Almeida.

The best to do the Almeida tour is to leave the car outside the wall and walk through its cobbled streets, from the San Francisco Gate.

Gate of San Francisco in Almeida

To enter the Almeida walled enclosure, you will go through this beautiful door that is located in the southern part of the town.

The complex is made up of two doors joined by a vaulted tunnel, an exterior one dating from the 19th century and an older interior one from the 17th century.

Here you will find the Tourist Office where you can pick up a map and information to do the tour of Almeida.

Here you can already see the magnificent moat twelve meters deep and 62 meters wide.

Squad Barracks in Almeida

As soon as you cross the tunnel San Francisco Gate. you will enter the Republic Square, and on the left side you will find the Squad Barracks with a beautiful staircase and the royal coat of arms on the main façade.

Its construction dates back to the 18th century and it was created to be used as an infantry barracks.

The side façade is formed by a porch and a row of semicircular arches. Markets are currently organized in these arcades.

Church of Mercy in Almeida

In the aforementioned Republic Square you will find the Church of Mercy, which dates back to the end of the 1521th century and is a reconstruction of the one that was originally built in XNUMX.

The façade curiously reproduces that of one of the doors that give access to the interior of the walled enclosure, that of San Antonio. Two balconies on both sides of the door decorate the façade.

The temple was attached to old hospital thus forming as a whole The House of Mercy, and in its main chapel you can see two gilded altarpieces from the 19th century.

Almeida main church

 In front of the gardens of the Republic Square, you will find the Almeida main church, built in the 13th and 14th centuries by the Templars, although it underwent an important reform in the 19th century.

It is part of former convent of the Regular Tertiary Nuns of San Francisco which served as a military barracks and hospital.

The bell tower stands out on the outside and inside you can see the Chapel of the Child Jesus.

Almeida Town Hall

The building of the Almeida Town Hall you will find it in the Freedom Square and was built in the 18th century to be used as artillery barracks and prison.

This neoclassical building with a triple arch on its front, it is one of the little that remains of Almeida military architecture.

Currently the municipality's construction and urban services are located here.

 Almeida Palace of Justice

El Almeida Palace of Justice It was built between the 17th and 18th centuries initially for the service of the Military governor, since it housed the General inspection of the Beira region, with military equipment whose objective was to ensure the financial management of military posts.

It is located in front of the Town Hall and its name is Vedoria Palace, a two-story building with a square floor plan, a hipped roof and a linear and symmetrical façade.

A very clear example of administrative and residential military architecture. 

Almeida Castle

From the original Almeida castle Currently there are only a few remains since it was completely destroyed during the III French invasion in 1810, although these remains are declared National Monument 1928 since.

It is thought that the original castle could have been Muslim, although the remains we see give us more of an idea of ​​a Gothic style castle.

These remains can be visited as they have attached metal stairs and walkways to take along the route.

Next to the castle you will see how the Clock Tower, a building built in 1830 with a square floor plan that apparently is built on the old and missing Iglesia Mayor de Nuestra Señora de las Candelas.

Gate of San Antonio in Almeida

Another double door that you should not miss in the grounds of the fortified citadel of Almeida Its the San Antonio, which was built with a bomb-proof domed roof.

The most important is the interior door built in the 17th century.

It was the place where he lived Guard Corps, and that sometimes even served as a small prison. He Royal shield figure on the façade.

Currently in the former headquarters of the aforementioned Guard Corps of the outer door is the CEAMA, whose mission is to support research to present strength in a didactic way.

King's Picadero in Almeida

Another prominent place is the King's Picadero, currently a horseback-riding school, but originally it was used as an arsenal; War machinery and military equipment that was constantly destroyed were also repaired here.

During the bombings of the 19th century it was almost completely destroyed, later being restored to be dedicated to equestrian activities.

The riding school is made up of a series of buildings with stables, beautiful horses where riding lessons are given, as well as horse or buggy rides for whoever requests it.

Keeps the shield with royal arms above the main door, as well as some of the original walls. 

Almeida Wall

Although what would impress you the most would be to be able to see it from the air, it is still surprising to see a stone wall 2.500 meters long with star shape with twelve points, which in battles was very useful since crossfire.

Designed in the shape of a double hexagon, each angle of the polygon is a bulwark shaped like a spear, and among them are other smaller ones, the ravelins.

Between the Bastions most significant is that of Our Lady of Brotas or the Santa Barbara.

The excellent condition in which this defensive system is preserved will be a fabulous tour that you can discover on foot.

In the Tourist Office They recommend that you begin the walk at the top of the walls in an anti-clockwise direction, that is, on the right as you enter the enclosure. 

Almeida Military Historical Museum

This is one of the museums that you should not miss in Almeida, basically to see the structure, which is very curious.

Known as Casemates, is a huge complex made up of 20 underground and vaulted rooms whose objective was military protection.

Its use has been very varied, whether as a food warehouse, as a refuge for the population during the siege of Almeida or as a prison during the civil war.

They are built with large blocks of granite without any type of opening to the outside, but with ventilation ducts and cisterns that were used to protect themselves from the enemy while the siege lasted.

It also has a well and protected water mine.

How to Live Aligned with Almeida Military-Historical Museum It began operating in 2009, and the ticket price is 3 euros.

Emblazoned houses in Almeida

En Almeida Not only is the fortress beautiful, but walking through its streets you will find a lot of emblazoned houses that will catch your attention.

We highlight some:

Solar São João da Praça, is built in the historic center of the town and is a representative house of the great military nobles. This home offers guided tours. 

House of Antonio Pereira Fontão Junior, built by someone who was a rich merchant of the town, is known as Casa Grande.

House of Marshal Leitão de Carvalho, also known as Leitão Palace, a building that dates back to the 17th century and is decorated with baroque ornamentation.

On the first floor, you will see two doors, and on the upper floor, two windows that frame the family coat of arms. 

Chamber House It is a 16th century building whose façade shows the Manueline shield with the county's arms. 

Brigadier Vicente Delgado Freire House, in which the shield on the façade stands out with great ornamental detail. 

Quinientist House, with one door for housing and another for commerce, which was very typical of Jewish homes. 

House of the Exposed Wheel, This house was built in the 19th century and was dedicated to collecting children who were left anonymously, so it fulfilled the functions of an orphanage.

It is strategically located in the Rua da Muralha.

We do not want to fail to mention the rich and varied gastronomy from the area and, of course, its delicious cod cooked in thousands of different ways.

On the other hand, it is also worth highlighting the multitudinous festival in commemoration of the Battle of Almeida which is celebrated on the last weekend of August, in which the siege suffered by the population by Napoleon's troops is recreated, and in which a market and a Historical-Military Camp are also set up.

What to see around Almeida

To the north of Almeida, on the hill that dominates the Sierra de Marofa, there is another interesting historical village such as Castelo Rodrigo, which we recommend you visit.

It is also very close Villa Formoso, which is a district or parish of Almeida that borders the province of Salamanca. 

There, among other things, its very beautiful train station where the Peace Memorial Museum, a tribute to Consul Aristides Sousa Mendes and his efforts to save thousands of lives during the Nazi era.

Truly impressive, it will not leave you indifferent.

How to get to Almeida in Portugal

Almeida It is located two and a half hours by car east of Porto already an hour and a half by car west of Salamanca.