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Quinta do Joanamigo, 6440-071 Barca d'Alva
Joanamigo Farm, 6440-071 Barca d'Alva
Website: www.terradalva.com
E-mail: terradalva@gmail.com
TEL. (+351) 969 673 800
It is an authentic monumental space where it is important to highlight the old walls, the ruins of the Palace of Cristóvão de Moura, the five hundred year old pillory, the main church, the medieval cistern and the vestiges that confirm the existence of New Christians.
It is the most important monument of military architecture in the municipality. The exact date of its construction is not known, but it is thought to date from before the 1209 charter of Afonso IX of León. The fortification has undergone many alterations over the years and it was after the reforms of King Dinis that the castle was surrounded by a barbican, which meant that access to the inside of the fortress had to be made via an enclosed route. King Manuel I ordered the restoration of the walls again after some years, and it was only in 1922 that this monument was recognised as a National Monument. It underwent its final restoration in 1940.
A Cistercian monastery, it is a fine example of early Gothic architecture, with simplistic elements that well characterise the sobriety of the buildings occupied by the Cistercian Order. Although badly damaged by the French invasions, the church with baroque high altar still remains, with the monks' wing, the sacristy and the Chapter hall still preserved, a dining hall wall and the guesthouse building.
The Batalha de Castelo Rodrigo Interpretation Centre aims to honour and pay homage to the ancestors and revive the memory of one of the most decisive and important military events of the War of Restoration, the Battle of Castelo Rodrigo.
It has six centers where the visitor, through new technologies and testimonies, can understand the path to the dynastic union, learn about the main personalities of the restoration, get to know the history of the War of Restoration, the Battle of Castelo Rodrigo and has a Weapons Room.
The history of the Jewish presence in the county is now inventoried and documented in this interpretive centre, named in honour of Ephraim Bueno, a Jew born in Castelo Rodrigo, who was a doctor, physicist and writer with great relevance at the court of the Netherlands.
Dating from the 18th century, it has some Romanesque features and a Baroque façade. It has a choir, unique in Portugal, which is based on an arch consisting of 26 S-shaped stones, except for the central one which resembles a heart. The main altar is embellished with baroque carvings and the 16th century image of St. Vincent stands out in particular.
Miradouro do Cristo Rei or the Observation Point of Christ the King of Marofa has views that seem to reach infinity. At the top of the observation point there is an imposing image (6 metres high) of Cristo Rei da Marofa, and the simple Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Fátima.
A tower of Roman foundation, originally used as a temple, the Torre de Almofala is probably a Romanesque vestige from the 10th century. An interpretative centre has been created that relies on new technologies to divulge the history and where the findings of archaeological excavations are displayed.
The Alto da Sapinha viewpoint combines the waters of the Douro, the cliffs and rocks of the Águeda River up to its mouth and the majestic flight of the griffon vultures in a single landscape. The view is further enriched by the terraces, olive groves, almond trees and orchards on the Portuguese side and by the Iberian plateau, in the lands of Salamanca and Zamora, on the Spanish side.
Edifício da Alfândega, Largo 25 de Abril 6355-217 Vilar Formoso
territoriosdocoa@gmail.com • +351 914 506 242
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