Elvas City Walls
Elvas, a short bus journey from the UNESCO World Heritage city of Evora is most famous for its amazing fortifications that zigzag around the town.
Elvas' star-shaped walls were designed in the 16th century by the Flemish Jesuit engineer Cosmander, working along with Correia Lucas and Nicolau de Langres. Even today the city is still entered through their impressive gates: the Olivença Gate in the south; the Esquina Gate in the west and the São Vincente Gate to the north.
Elvas also has two outlying forts, the Forte de Graça to the north and the superb Forte de Santa Luzia (Tel: 268 628 357) to the south. There are great views from Santa Luzia and admission to the Miltary Museum there is free.
The Forte de Nossa Senhora da Graça, to give it its full name, is still used by the Portuguese military and remains closed to the general public.
It was completed in 1792 and is considered to be one of the most impregnable military forts in the world. The overall design was overseen by the French military architect Guillaume Louis Antoine de Valleré.
The Olivença Gate in the south is one of the most important entrances to the city along with the elaborate São Vincente Gate to the north east.
