King Dinis' Wall (Muralha), Museu de Dinheiro (Money Museum), Lisbon
After the 1755 Earthquake that devastated much of Lisbon the 13th century Medieval wall of King Dinis (1261 - 1325) lay buried until the remnant on display at the Money Museum (Museu de Dinheiro) just off Praça do Município in the old city was uncovered.
As well as the segment of the original wall also on display are pieces of pottery from the Roman and Islamic periods in Portuguese history, masonry fragments, coins, tiles and human skeletons.
The wall was built to protect the capital from attack from the sea.
King Dinis is regarded as one of Portugal's most effective monarchs. He signed the Treaty of Alcañices (1297) with Spain, defining the modern boundaries between the two nations.
Dinis was a poet king and also ahead of his time in planting pine forests in his kingdom, some of which still remain, in particular near Leiria. He founded a university and has even been called by early historians the "Father of the Nation" (Pai da Pátria).
