You can walk around the battlements at the castle for dramatic views across the baking plains. The original castle was built by the Moors on a Roman site and rebuilt by Dom Dinis in the 13th century, then again by Dom João II in the late 15th century.
A good place to linger (on clear days) is the terrace cafe, inside the castle walls.
10.48 MILES
Badajoz' majestic 12th-century, 8-hectare Alcazaba, the largest in Spain, lords over the city above the Plaza Alta. Guarding all is the Torre de…
15.62 MILES
The dukes of Bragança built their palace in the early 16th century when the fourth duke, Dom Jaime, grew tired of his uncomfortable hilltop castle. The…
0.77 MILES
Looming high over the arid countryside, about 3km north of town, this old military fort has a commanding presence. From the castelo, the fort is just…
23.27 MILES
At the top of the upper town is the stark, glowing-white, fortress-like former royal palace, now the Pousada de Rainha Santa Isabel. Dom Dinis built the…
24.6 MILES
Looming large above little Alburquerque is the intact Castillo de Luna. The centrepiece of a frontier defence system of forts, the castle occupies the…
Museu de Arqueologia & Museu de Caça
15.36 MILES
Inside the historic castelo looming above Vila Viçosa is an intriguing collection of relics, plus some less appealing animal skins and assorted taxidermy…
23.33 MILES
This museum is housed in a beautiful 17th-century almshouse near the former palace. Pretty hand-painted furniture sits alongside endearing, locally carved…
Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Elvas
0.26 MILES
A must-see if the right exhibition is showing. Opened in 2007, the museum is housed in a cleverly renovated baroque-style building from the 1700s,…
0.13 MILES
Originally this 16th-century pelourinho (stone pillory) stood in the nearby Praça da República. It was dismantled and partially destroyed in 1872. The one…
0.13 MILES
This plain church hides a thrilling interior. There are painted marble columns under a cupola, gilded chapels and fantastic 17th-century azulejos covering…
0.14 MILES
Though this church was originally built in the 12th century, only the Romanesque-Gothic portal remains from that time. The interior was altered over the…
4. Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção
0.16 MILES
Francisco de Arruda designed this sturdy fortified church in the early 16th century, and it served as the town’s cathedral until Elvas lost its episcopal…
0.24 MILES
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…
6. Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Elvas
0.26 MILES
A must-see if the right exhibition is showing. Opened in 2007, the museum is housed in a cleverly renovated baroque-style building from the 1700s,…
7. Museu Fotográfico João Carpinteiro
0.32 MILES
Housed in the old-town cinema is this tiny museum that contains a collection of vintage cameras, the oldest a pocket-vest number dating from 1912. Unless…
0.33 MILES
Dating from the 17th century, this Jesuit church is notable for its gilded chancel (the area surrounding the altar), complete with coffered ceiling. It's…