O Forte de Santo António da Pedra da Galé, também referido como Fortaleza de Armação de Pêra, localiza-se em Armação de Pêra, no município de Silves, distrito de Faro, em Portugal.

História

Presume-se que a primitiva defesa do local tenha sido um antigo castro dos lusitanos ou um forte romano, destinado à defesa da foz da ribeira de Alcantarilha.

Posteriormente, aqui foi erguido um forte, em 1571, para defesa contra os ataques dos piratas da Barbária e de corsários em geral. Adicionalmente a estrutura oferecia protecção às pessoas que se deslocavam da freguesia de Alcantarilha para este local, onde se dedicavam à pesca.

Ao longo dos séculos, ao abrigo da defesa proporcionada pelo forte, populações foram-se fixando na região, dando origem ao povoado de Armação de Pêra, voltado para a actividade da pesca e da agricultura, nesta última, nomeadamente a produção de frutos secos.

Por volta de 1720 foi levantada, no interior da fortificação, a Capela de Santo António em homenagem ao padroeiro do forte.

Com o terramoto de 1755 o forte sofreu severos danos, vindo a ser reconstruído alguns anos mais tarde.

Encontra-se classificado como Imóvel de Interesse Público pelo IPPAR, desde 1978.

Atualmente funciona como um mirante turístico para o areal de Armação de Pêra e o oceano.

Fortaleza de Armação de Pêra

Account

by category

Login

Name

by region

Title

Name in English

The Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha (also known as the Fort of Our Lady of the Rock or Castle of Porches) is a medieval castle situated in the civil parish of Porches, in the municipality of Lagoa in Portuguese Algarve. Inside the fort is the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, of uncertain date.

History

Doubt continues to exist as to the origin of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, as well as the original fort that existed on this site. The privileged location on a promontory reflects the importance of the site, which was fortified to help secure the coast from Ossonoba (Faro) to Lacobriga (Lagos),  as well as protecting the beach and maritime access. The 8th century is normal used as a reference, suggesting a construction based on the reuse of existing Roman-era elements. The actual configuration of the temple is difficult to catalog. On one hand, the constructors reused the capitals, presupposing a public construction that occurred in the High Middle Ages. On the other hand, successive remodelling, painting and lack of prior archaeological excavations has made rigorous analysis impossible; this lack of information has contributed to the difficulty in dating and contextualizing the style of architecture. Despite a lack of archaeological research, scholars believe that at the time of the Muslim invasion of the Iberian peninsula, the site was already a military fortification.

In the last few years, different authors have suggested distinct hypothesizes to explain the origin of the temple. Teresa Gamito, on studying the Byzantine presence in the Algarve, saw in the chapel proof of the vitality of Byzantine reconquest of the peninsula. To the author, the configuration of the atrium and its similarity with the Chapel of São Pedro de Balsemão, were proofs confirming the Byzantine origins of the temple, whose oriental design was verifiable in the Visigothic epoch. The confusion evident in Gamito's arguments were later reexamined by Manuel Justino Maciel, who systematically deconstructed the indications of its Byzantine-Visigothic construction, while not specifically advancing new data on the building.

There are no local records which shed light on the castle or fort, and it is not mentioned in writings until a grant by King Afonso III to his chancellor, D. Estevão (in a document sent to the people of Santa Maria de Faro), dated February 1250. Equally problematic was the proposal of Cláudio Torres, who saw in the chapel a "centre of pilgrimage in the Mozarab epoch". The reuse of capitals during the Middle Ages was not only limited to this period, but also again reused during the 9th to 11th century.

During the 13th century, King Denis ordered the construction of a fortress to protect the hermitage, whose construction, following the legend of that time, was located on the site of a mysterious Marian apparition.

King John III ordered a reconstruction of the fort around the 16th century, owing to cases of invasions/incursions by Moorish pirates, as well as the defense of the beach for trade.

But dating of the fort is still unclear; there is secure information only after the end of the 16th century, at the time when Tomé Gonçalves was identified as governor. But, by 1821, the fort was encountered in an advance state of ruin; there was no indication as to the original perimeter/extent of this fortress. It is likely that much of what remains of the fortress was destroyed through successive landslides and destruction caused by ocean swells (to this date, its perimetre continues to be threatened ocean forces).

A final phase of remodelling and reconstruction occurred in the 19th century.

The site was partially restored by the Direcção-Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais (Directorate-General of Buildings and National Monuments), during the 1960s, while proposals to investigate and protect the monument were submitted. This included the reconstruction of the walls and repairs to the fort and chapel, demolition of the roof, repairs to the azulejo tile and reconstruction of the pavements (accomplished in 1963); the replacement of the doors and window frames (in 1964); the reconstruction and repair of the pavements and azulejos (in 1965); and the restoration of the walls, repair of the cupola and a clean-up of the landscape within the vicinity of the structures (in 1968). Following an earthquake in 1969, much of the existing fortress was damaged or destroyed.

In 1976, the walls were once again consolidated and new azulejos were added to the chapel. The whitewashing of the structure was completed in 1977.

A new initiative to repair the walls, which also included touches to the chapel and annexes, were completed in 1986.

The site came under the protection of the IPPAR (Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónicoon) on 1 June 1992, under decree law 106F/92, passing under the control of the IGESPAR when this organization took over these responsibilities and jurisdictions.

The chapel is the destination of pilgrimages and annual processions, with the primary festival day associated with the first Sunday of August. During the religious processions the image of the Virgin is taken from the fort, down to the beach.

Architecture

The chapel is composed of two spaces essentially: a large rectangular narthex, open to the exterior through a triple arcade of columns and two Corinthian capitals (dated to the 3rd-4th century); and a rectangular space with cupola, atypical of other regional religious temples. The articulated volumes includes horizontal spaces with tiled roof over the main annex, while the aba extending to the sacristy and pyramidal spire over the main chapel.

The main façade of the chapel (oriented towards the west), includes two spaces that correspond to the galilé and sacristy (which is slightly recessed). The body of the galilé is marked by three arches over two columns of shafts, consisting of a concave base and plinth, with the northern relief consisting of scrolls and palmettes with stylized triangles.

In the interior, the cupola is covered by wood with a modern retable, divided into three section, aligned to the eastern-facing wall. It is marked by a rounded arch, with its nave extending to an altar composed of retable with four ionic columns, presenting an image of the Virgin Mary. The octagonal false cupola is covered in wood framework.

The fort is constituted by a curtin of walls marked by a main gate. The sides of the structures and spire are constructed of reused masonry white-washed and in grey.

Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha (Porches)

The Castle of Silves is a castle in the civil parish of Silves in the municipality of Silves in the Portuguese Algarve. It's believed that the first fortifications were built upon a possible Lusitanian castro, by the Romans or Visigoths. Between the 8th and 13th centuries, the castle was occupied by the moors who expanded it, making it one of the best preserved Moorish fortifications in Portugal, resulting in its classification as a National Monument in 1910.

History

From archaeological excavations, it is assumed that the first fortress on this site consisted of a Lusitanian castro. It is believed that Phoenicans, Greeks and Carthaginians traversed the site at one time, but that around 201 B.C. the Romans conquered Silves, transforming it into a citadel of their occupation, and commercial center that prospered for the next five centuries.

Around 716 A.D., the Visigothic citadel was conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate who reinforced the existing fortifications with a new series of walls. This new period resulted in a great period of development, under the Moorish occupiers, that include the extensive walls in the west. In 1160, it was sacked by Ferdinand I of León and Castile, but remained only for a short time in the hand of the Christians: it was quickly recaptured by the Moors. King Sancho I of Portugal, supported by the powerful Crusader army, conquered the city, after a prolong encirclement in 1189. But, a grande army, under orders from Amir al-Mu'minin, in 1191, retook the city. The buildings of the Taifa kingdoms of the 11th century, which includes the Palace of Balconies (where Al-Mutamid, lived as the poet Ibn Amarhe) progressed in the 11th century. The walls and towers that today represent the Castle of Silves came from these campaigns and public works by Almoravides and Almohads in the 12th and 13th centuries. The castles internal water catchment, and large rain fed underground cistern were used to provide freshwater for the surrounding dwellings (to as late as the 1920s). It would only be in the 13th century, during the reign of Afonso III of Portugal, that forces under the command of D. Paio Peres Correia, would definitively take the fortress.

Kingdom

A foral was issued in 1266 by King Afonso III of Portugal. In order to expand the influence of Portuguese control, this foral was then supported by residential concessions from King Denis (in 1305), that were later repeated in 1380, under King Fernando I of Portugal. But, even naming Prince Henry the Navigator alcalde for Silves (in 1457), and new concessions in 1487, under King John II, little development occurred in the territory.

On 1 November 1755, the castle was damaged by the Lisbon earthquake, resulting in the "...loss of its cathedral, tower, castle and walls...", as identified by Moreira de Mendonça (1758). Sometime during the 18th century, the dungeons were reconstructed, following the earthquake, and the ceilings repainted.

During the Liberal Wars the walls were repaired by the population, under Remexido, who ignored the foundations of the original castle.

Republic

In excavations beginning on 13 August 2005 and lasting into 2006, archaeologists Rosa and Mário Varela Gomes brought light onto the vestiges of the Muslim ruins, and in particular the 11th century governors palace, occupied by Al-Mutamid (from designs of polychromatic stucco). During the construction of the tea house, vestiges of another building, that was occupied by the Infante Henry, along the southwest of the military square, near the walls. In March 2005, a risk assessment map for the zone was completed for the principal entrance-way by the DGEMN. This resulted in a proposal by the IPPAR and Direção Regional de Cultura de Faro to expand the zone of protection to include the walls and Almedina Gate, on 12 June 2008, and approved on 1 October 2008 by the IGESPAR.

The DGEMN made its first intervention in the decade of 1940, demolishing the buildings annexed to the walls of the castle, and construction to lower the soil surfaces near the entrance to the castle and in the military square. At the same time, the rooftops of the guardhouse was re-tiled; the reconstruction of one of the towers in a degraded state of ruin; recuperation of various walls; consolidation of the keep tower and restoration of the parapets; reconstruction of the battlements; recuperation of the gates; re-plastering in the guardhouse; and the general cleaning of the cistern in the military square.

Two decades later (1965) the walls were repaired following the removal a shed along its flanks, which involved of the repair of the axis. In 1967, work began on a municipal museum within the towers of the castle, resulting in the ornamentation of the towers in regional tile; retouches and reconstruction of spaces; and the installation of electricity.

Starting in 1971, there were a series of demolitions and reconstructions in the castle, that included the 1977 consolidation of the walls; the 1979 re-layering of freestones; replacement of the gate; repairs and cleaning of the rooftops; consolidation of the walls in the north and east (in 1980); consolidation of two towers; and, beginning in 1982 (but also in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987) general recuperation of the site. This process was repeated in 1993, then starting in 200 there were a series of public works to recover and recuperate the dungeons, including the installation of new rafters, water protection and improvement of drainage structures. Meanwhile, the Centre for the Studies of Art and Archeology of Tomar (Portuguese: Centro de estudos de Arte e Arqueologia de Tomar) was involved with museum-ification of some of the spaces, using the spaces to establish the administrative and educational services, in addition to creating a botanical garden, related to the Portugueses Discoveries period, within the old Governor's garden.

Further restoration, and excavation are ongoing, with more early buildings being discovered just outside the castle walls.

The building in the photograph of the 'interpretive and visitor centre is now a cafe and the rear view is the entrance to the toilets. There is no invitation to enter and gain any information of the castle.

Architecture

The castle consists of an irregular polygon implanted on a hilltop overlooking the community of Silves, comprising four towers and seven crenellated posts, linked by walls with ardaves.

Two gates, the principal one between two towers and the Traitor's Gate carved into the northern wall. Alongside the principal gate is the guardhouse, constructed with a vaulted ceiling, and covered in tiles.

Within its courtyard are various subterranean structures, with accesses at soil level. The Cistern of Moura, is a 10 metres (33 ft) high, 820 square metres (8,800 sq ft) superficial area, with five naves marked by four orders of columns, interlinked by semi-circular archways. The Cisterna dos Cães, within the courtyard, is a vertical hole of 60 metres (200 ft) depth, that also supported water supply in the castle.

Interior

On the second floor of the Governor's residence, there are two halls covered in painted wood. One of these halls includes a painting of royal arms, framed in shells and acanthus leaves, while on the four lateral panels, are military "trophies" comprising suits of armor, flags, lances, canons, muskets and drums. In the other hall is an allegory of Mars flanked by figurative and floral medallions.

In the military square, and alongside the southwest wall, are the vestiges of a house, presumably the residence of Prince Henry (when he was the alcalde of the Algarve), that includes foundations in dirt, a stone staircase (with a single on one flight), a spacious living room with the remains of a vaulted ceiling, olive oil press and pesto.

Castle of Silves

The Fort of São João do Arade (Portuguese: Forte de São João do Arade), sometimes referred to as the Castle of Arade, is a medieval fortification situated in the civil parish of Ferragudo in the Portuguese Algarve municipality of Lagoa.

History

The first fortification on the site consisted of a watch tower erected in the reign of King John II of Portugal. Later, following the settlement of Ferragudo (around 1520), it is believed that the castle was encircled by a defensive wall (built on the rudimentary walls of the older walls): giving rise to its original name Castle of Arade.

The origins of the Fort of Arade (or Ferragudo, as it is also known) date back to the Philippine Dynasty, and the need by the Habsburg rulers to defend the coast of the peninsula from attacks by pirates and privateers in service to the Crowns of northern Europe. Yet, even at the beginning decades of the 17th century, no fortress was constructed owing to the indecision on whether to locate the fortification on the left or right margin (location of Vila Nova de Portimão).

Engineer Alexandre Massai defended a new construction in Portimão, while the left margin proposal (in Ferragudo) was defended by the municipality of Silves. According to a report by Alexandre Massai, the battlements already existed in 1621, since he refers to “um sítio cercado chamado Ferragudo” (“a walled site called Ferragudo”).

The Portuguese Restoration War, once again, justified the construction of a new fortress. It was in 1640 that the order to construct a fortification came down from King John IV; the fortress was built to substitute the Castle of Ferragudo (Portuguese: Castelo de Ferragudo) which had lost its effectiveness.[ This bulwark was erected downstream on a rocky platform, but the effects of erosion and Atlantic storms (especially a violent storm in 1669) caused severe damage to the original bulwark.

Within four years (2 May 1644), the first captain was assigned to the fort: Francisco da Costa Barros. The strategic location of this castle, from the beginning, made the fortress more than just a military structure. The fort controlled a privileged place at the mouth of the River Arade, with the capacity to strike as far as the margins of Portimão.

An inspection carried-out by the Governor of the Kingdom of the Algarve, D. Rodrigo António de Noronha e Meneses, considered the fortification to be in perfect condition. At that time there were two artillery batteries: the lower battery, with three pieces of artillery; and the upper battery, with four pieces. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake did not result in any damages, in comparison to many of the buildings/structures along the southern coast, partly due to its construction on soft rock. By 1821, the fort remained active, referencing two, heavily armed batteries on its upper tier.

The area was also a transit point for boats leaving the river, making it a responsible for fluvial traffic that entered and left Silves. But, this role was fleeting; after the Concession of Evoramonte, the fort fell into disuse and was declassified in 1896. Its history since then was of slow deterioration and abandon, that culminated in 1896, with its public sale: it was sold at a public auction for 600,000 reis.

Untouched throughout the 20th century, the group of structures maintained there state, waiting on rigorous studies and archaeological investigation. After its sale, it was adapted as a summer residence, by the poet Coelho Carvalho, who undertook extensive renovations to create a residence reflecting his personal taste. Still in private hands, it was classified in 1975 as a historic building by the Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (IPPAR), forerunner of the IGESPAR.

But, today, it is practically abandoned: the local authority petitioned for its transformation into cultural centre; in 1976, the Junta Freguesia de Ferragudo solicited the national government in order to occupy the fort.

Architecture

Its location belies its status as a rural fortification, located on a hillock, overlooking the left margin of the Portimão estuary, isolated on a vast wooded property. Situated in a dominant position at the mouth of the Arade River, the elevated site divides two beaches: the Praia da Angrinha and the Praia Grande. Together with the Fort of Santa Catarina, on the water front of Portimão, the fort guards the estuary and mouth of the river.

The plan of the fort is an irregular trapezoid, implanted on a high spot, with a keep and various spaces oriented to the sea. The vertical facades are covered with windows and barbicans.

The structure of the fort is easily identifiable, with its battlements serving as positioning batteries. It was designed vertically, in order to permit visibility both from its battlements, and from sea. Its height, makes it one of the more interesting features of the structure, permitting observation.

The site is well preserved, with a large walled garden stretching from Praia da Angrinha to Praia Grande, that includes a large residence.

Forte de São João do Arade

The Fort of Santa Catarina (also known as the Fort of Santa Catarina de Ribamar) is a medieval fort situated in the civil parish of Portimão, in the municipality of Portimão in Portuguese Algarve. The structure was considered one of the last Philippine military projects in the Algarve, erected to defend the peninsula from pirates and privateers, as well as military invasions. Its construction is one of the better examples that work of Alexandre Massai, a military engineer who toured the Algarve (between 1617 and 1621) to reinforce numerous military fortifications along the coast.

History

The origins of the Fort of Santa Catarina are still debated. Some authors point to a 15th-century origin, during the reign of King John III or Sebastian, although few proofs have been identified, except for a small chapel dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria.

In 1621, during the Iberian Union, Alexandre Massai, leading a committee of hundreds of specialists traveled the mouth of the Arade River, in order to find the best site for the construction of a fortress to defend the lands along the southern extent of the River. At the time many of the older medieval castles of Ferragudo and Portimão were already unable to support the defense of the coast to these limits, from pirates, corsairs and maritime invasions. The obvious choice at the time was along the edge of Praia da Rocha (referred to as Ponta de Santa Catarina) where a hermitage had once existed (and had been integrated in to a new fort) along the southern extent of Portimão's territory.

Various arguments have been suggested for this location, to the detriment of a proposed fortress sited further into the interior (likely in Ferragudo): the site offered better sight-lines, a greater access to potable water, and especially its privileged connection with Portimão, thereby determining its selection over other sites.

In 1621, Massai designed three proposed plans for the fortifications, all of which included an ample northern facade to serve as the principal entrance-way to the structure. The construction of the fortification began eight years later, in 1629, and was terminated in 1633 (relatively rapid for the time). Unfortunately, many of these elements were lost in successive years, owing to the alterations in design and function at the fort. Of the original 17th-century project, only the front facade, organized around three symmetrical walls, with the central/main entrance recessed. This front facade is constructed of large pilasters and lintel made from large blocks of round rock, conferring on a monumental structure, while the rest of the structure, in contrast, is relatively less grand. Also part of the project was a raised bridge, whose elements today no longer exist.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake damaged the fortress, with the public works to reconstruct the structure divided into a period immediately after the event (essential repairs), while the remainder was carried out in the 1790s.

A profound remodeling of the space was accomplished during the 20th century, influenced by the development of tourism in the region; on 23 July 1946, a dispatch handed the property over to the Municipal Commission for Tourism of Portimão (Comissão Municipal de Turismo de Portimão). The interior was divided into a post for the Guarda Fiscal and Captaincy of Portimão (who partnered in the construction of the new buildings), as well as a space for a lookout. This last project occurred in the 1960s, and occupied a zone originally part of the battery, facing the sea in the extreme southeast corner of the building. During these projects the walls and base of the fortress were reinforced using modern techniques, which permitted the expansion of the area devoted to the lookout. In parallel, the progressive expansion of the beach meant that the fort could be used to support Praia da Rocha, including a restaurant and esplanade.

In 1969 an earthquake provoked damages and repairs to the building; in addition to the construction of reinforced concrete lintels, the braces and pillars were consolidated, repairs were made to the wall panels, grouting of cracks and plaster reconstruction were completed and the roofing was repaired, while the doors and frames were all painted.

Architecture

Situated in the urban context of Portimão, on the extreme eastern portion of the Praia da Rocha, it is accessible by a staircase implanted into the cliffs. This fort defended the local settlements and the estuary of the Arade River, in conjunction with the Fort of São João do Arade on the opposite bank of the river in Ferragudo.

The fort is a trapezoidal plan, with the main gate oriented towards land, between battlements separated by ramps. The interior dependencies have been adapted into cafetaria and lookout; these spaces are single-height buildings consisting of rectangular spaces with doors, windows and tiled roofs with chimneys. A wall that is opened by seven arches separates the interior spaces from the walled lookout over the beach. The curtain of walls provides access to the beach by the staircase.




Forte de Santa Catarina (Portimão)

The Castle of Paderne (Portuguese: Castelo de Paderne) is an ancient fortification located in the civil parish of Paderne, municipality of Albufeira, in the Portuguese Algarve. It was constructed in the later 12th century by Berbers, in an area around 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) inland. The edifice is located just 8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi) from the resort town of Albufeira, along a bend in the Quarteira River. It is believed to be one of the original castles that occupy the shield of the Portuguese national flag.

History

Around the middle of the 2nd century, the Roman conquered the Lusitanian castro, which had developed between Neolithic and Cacholithic. The settlement was transformed into a military outpost and, eventually, politico-administrative centre named Paderne or Paderna. Its location on a rocky peninsular bend was of strategic importance, as it controlled the ancient Roman road Via Lusitanorum crossing the Quarteira River on the south.

The Roman villa was conquered by the Moors by 713. On this site, the Almohads constructed a fortification. Concerned with advancing Christian armies from the north, the Almohads began an intensive period of military construction and fortification in the Algarve (in Paderne, Faro, Loulé and Silves and many other locations). The depopulation of the Muslim countryside, caused by Christian raids, while avoiding outright conflict, resulted in the construction of these type of fortifications, which were used secure relative safety for their citizens in the interior of the Algarvean Barrocal (mountains).

In 1189 the castle (Silves) was conquered by the armies of King Sancho I with the help of English-Christian mercenaries during a continuous night raid. In 1191 Muslim forces of the Almohad dynasty under the command of Caliph Abu Yusuf Ya’qub al-Mansur recaptured the castle and surrounding lands.

In 1248, D. Paio Peres Correia took the castle for the Crown of Portugal, during the reign of Afonso III. The forces of Peres Correia massacred all its inhabitants within Paderne castle. It was shortly after these events that a chapel was built: it is believed that the structure was built on the ruins of the mosque.

Following a series of restorations, King Denis of Portugal donated the castle to the Master of the Order of Avis, D. Lourenço Anes, as an attempt to make it a viable military and economic centre But these attempts were tentative and, nonetheless, futile.

Owing to its isolation and state of ruin, in 1858, the castle was abandoned and its hermitage (local parish church, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Assunção) was deactivated.

On 10 March 1998, the fort and dependencies were transferred to Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (IPPAR), the Portuguese Institute of Architectural Patrimony. The IPPAR contracted the company Terracarta in order to create a three-dimensional design of the property. Further, the monument and terrains were purchased by the institute for 29.000.000$00 escudos.

A public tender was issued on 29 January 2002, under PROAlgarve, for the Recuperation of the Castle of Paderne, under the auspices of the IPPAR. The candidate entity was responsible for the recuperation of the walls, in taipa, the archaeological study and museological assessment of the site, including the old dependencies within the courtyard, the drainage of the monument, and lastly, the consolidation of the ruins of the Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Assunção. Archaeological excavations completed at the time unearthed remnants of dwellings and roadways within the castle compound, as well as the remains of a sophisticated sewage system and vestiges of a water supply network (that included cisterns and water channels).

Architecture

The rural, isolated castle is located on a high hilltop over a profound valley, covered in Mediterranean vegetation, olive groves, fig and carob trees. Its lies in a zone classified under the Natura 2000 designation, with a pedestrian trail under the Instituto de Conservação da Natureza (Institute for the Conservation of Nature).

The castle is a regular trapezoidal plan, almost a hectare in size, surrounded by walls, with a road that links to a tower across a Roman arch bridge. Within the interior are vestiges of a longitudinal chapel, with only the walls remaining.

The eastern side, which has the least natural defence has a substantial tower and is built of Taipa (mixture of mud, chalk, lime and aggregate that sets like concrete). This tower, the only one standing within the enclosure, protrudes from the wall and is connected to the main fortification by an upper passageway. From the outside of this tower is still possible to make out the whitewash strips which were applied to the taipa joints in order to give the impression that the tower was built from masonry. Nevertheless, these mud walls are 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) thick and are constructed on a substantial stone plinth which can be seen at the base of the perimeter walls. There are also at intervals, vertical openings to allow for drainage of any accumulative water inside the castle walls.

Below the tower are the remains of ramparts, which ran across the eastern perimeter: most of it has collapsed. This battlement, which is lower than the main walls also defended the main access to the castle. The accessway is at a right angle to the main wall, creating an "L"-shaped entrance designed to make any frontal attack difficult. Not all the stonework in the entrance is original; much of the access was reinforced and restored over time.

Within the castle precinct are the remnants of a cistern.

Along the south wall are the ruins of the former Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Castelo, which was the parochial church for the nearby village, dating from the 14th century, but abandoned in 1506 (when the new church was constructed in the village).

Castle of Paderne

The Castle of Alvor is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Alvor, in the Portuguese district of Faro: considered to be a significant military monument associated with the nearby Castle of Silves.

History

The establishment of the first fortress was constructed in the 7th century B.C.E., from the remains of Phoenician, Greek and Carthaginian remnants that were built on a Lusitanian castro settlement. The Carthaginian fort was conquered by Hannibal in 436, who renamed the fortification Portus Annibalis, which would later be re-christened Barcínia. From excavations completed by Teresa Gamito, the author determined that Alvor was an ancient populational and commercial centre during the pre-Roman colonization. Roman conquest did not alter significantly Alvor's role. The Moors finally conquered Alvor in 716, but the settlement retained its important political and commercial role that it acquired during the earlier cultures.

King Sancho I of Portugal destroyed the fort in 1189, when his forces swept away resistance from Moorish forces. It was a temporary success: the region was retaken in 1191 by the Moors. In 1250, King Afonso III finally settled this territorial dispute by sacking Alvor. In order to maintain their conquest, King Denis ordered the reconstruction of the castle in 1300.

Successively, Alvor was elevated to the status of town by King John II on 29 February 1495, which later allowed its deannexation from the municipality of Silves (on 28 December 1498). Within ten years, on 13 December 1505, King Manuel issued a foral (charter) to the parish of Alvor.

The apparent simplicity of the structure that survived to this day contrasts with the importance of the location during the Middle Ages. Current thinking suggests that the actual Castle of Alvor corresponded to the primitive square, that sheltered a garrison.  Outside this redoubt circled the primitive settlement, which was itself circled by walls (which have not survived). At the time of the first conquest of Silves (in 1189), Alvor was referred to as a dependent town, suffering from Christian incursions (including deaths and considerable destruction to the settlement).

Within the Christian sphere, Alvor became one of the principal localities of the Algarve. Yet, the few notices survive to this day of the military preparedness of the castle or its garrison. It was in Alvor that King John II died, his body eventually transferred to the Sé Cathedral in Silves, before being interred in the Monastery of Batalha.

It was only in the 17th century that a further understanding of the structure can be determined. In 1621, during a period of intense reform carried out after the Portuguese Restoration War, Alexandre Massaii first referred to Alvor castle as a " small, square fort". The preoccupation with the defense of the Algarve suggested that this fort was abandoned in favor of concentrating forces in large, complex forts in strategic points along the coast. Left in abandon, the castle was successively threatened by the encroachment of the town, as a number of residences were constructed within and without its walls.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake was responsible for the destruction of the castle, resulting in its current vestiges.

At the end of the 20th century, a children's playground was constructed in the interior of the main square, an act that was seen as a commemoration of the Christian conquest of the town.

The attempt to identify the hidden defensive systems of Alvor continues. An archaeological excavation of the hill discovered the remnants of the fortress of Ipses (or old city), located in front of the matriz church, revealing levels of Moorish occupation. These excavations revealed that the castle of Alvor was actually complemented by other secondary redoubts, located closer to the coast.

Architecture

As an ancient river community, the region was conditioned by a privileged position: it had access to the sea and interior territory, across many of the ravines and rivers that cross the region and protected by a dominant mountain. Alvor was, since this early period, a reference for many of the smaller populations that developed along the eastern maritime coast east of the River Arade.

The structure was installed on a 5-metre (5.5 yd) hilltop: a rectangular plan, the castle's walls continue to exist after many years of wear and ruin, comprising many blocks of irregular forms. A perceptible path still circles this structure, identifiable by a staircase located along the southern wall, but the vertical extent of this wall is clouded by limited vestiges.

The main gate, aligned to the north, was constructed during the Renaissance, defended by a tower. On the eastern wall is the remnant of another tower, with a panoramic view of the sea.