Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History & Culture
Archaeological finds indicate this area of Portugal has been inhabited since 4,800 BC, mak-
ing it one of the oldest settlements in the country. It took the Romans many years to con-
quer Marvão, achieving rule around 60BC during the Julius Caesar campaigns and naming
the settlement 'Ammaia'. The town flourished until the collapse of the Roman Empire in
the 5
th
Century and the town became a waypoint on trading routes and a watchtower.
The first mention of the town as Marvão appeared under the rule of the Moors in the Arab
Chronicles during the 10
th
Century. Following the formation of Portugal, Marvão was tent-
atively brought under Christian rule and became a territorial marker for the young state.
The Castle was built and fortified amid growing tensions along Portugal's borders in the
13
th
Century, becoming the site of numerous battles as Portugal fought to establish and se-
cure its borders. Today, the village remains almost exactly as it was in the 13
th
Century,
providing a glimpse back in time.
