Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
was a symbol of municipal power: criminals would once have been chained to the metal
hooks at the top. The fancy archway, with its own loggia at the top of the square, is pure
Moorish artistry - a flourish in the town walls that once trailed past here.
MUSEUM
Museu Fotográfico João Carpinteiro
( 268 636 470; Largo Luis de Camões; adult/child €2/1; 10am-1pm & 3-7pm Wed-Sun, 3-7pm Tue summer,
10am-1pm & 2-5pm Wed-Sun, 2-5pm Tue winter)
Housed in the old town cinema is this photography
museum, with an impressive collection of cameras; the oldest is a pocket-vest number dat-
ing from 1912. Changing photography exhibits are often the highlight of a visit here.
Fortifications
( 268 628 357)
The wall encircling the town spans three periods - the first walls were con-
structed in the 8th century with the arrival of the Moors, and the second Muslim wall
spans the 10th and 11th centuries (and onwards). The last (the majority of what you see)
was constructed in the 17th century: Flemish Jesuit engineer Cosmander designed the for-
midable defences, adding moats, ramparts, seven bastions, four semibastions and fortified
gates in the style of the famous French military architect the Marquis de Vauban.
To give an idea of the level of security: after crossing a drawbridge to get to the main
gate, you come to a 150-sq-metre square, surrounded by bastions, turrets and battlements,
a covered road and three lines of trenches, some of which are carved out of rock.
MUSEUM
Fernandina Tower
TOWER
( 268 636 470; Rua da Cadeia; 10am-1pm Wed-Sun, 3-7pm Tue-Sun)
The Fernandina Tower
was the result of alterations undertaken in the 14th century to the second Muslim wall. It
served as a jail from the end of the 15th century. These days, you can climb the spiral
staircase to the top for wonderful views. Note: the lighting is poor and it's a steep and
winding climb up three levels. There's also an excellent video on Elvas and its fortifica-
tions.
Forte de Santa Luzia
This miniature, zigzag-walled fort, just 1.4km south of the
praça,
houses a
military museum
(
268 628 357; admission €2; 10am-1pm & 3-7pm Wed-Sun, 3-7pm Tue)
. The
Forte de Nossa Senhora da
Graça
, 3km north of town, with a similar shape, was added in the following century; these
FORT
