Amieira Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Portalegre > Nisa > Amieira

Location

The Castle of Amieira stands in the picturesque village of Amieira do Tejo, part of the municipality of Nisa, in the heart of Alentejo. Although not located directly by the river, its position allows, from its highest points, a perspective of the surrounding landscape, with the valley where the waters of the Tagus meander in the distance. This strategic location reflects its historical role as an essential part of a defensive line along the river.

An Example of Gothic Architecture

This medieval castle is recognized as a unique model of Portuguese military Gothic architecture. It features a rectangular plan, with robust walls and battlements flanking the perimeter. At its four corners, solid towers stand out, culminating in the imposing Keep (Torre de Menagem), the grandest of the complex, which defends the main entrance of the barbican. The Keep reveals, on its top floor, a mullioned window and others with pointed arches, conferring upon it an architectural distinction.

Memories of Other Times

The history of Amieira Castle is deeply connected to the Order of Saint John of the Hospital of Jerusalem, which received these lands in the 13th century. The fortification we observe today began to be erected about a century later, around 1350, under the direction of Prior D. Frei Álvaro Gonçalves Pereira. Over the centuries, its military function was complemented by other uses, such as a prison, especially between the 15th and 16th centuries. It witnessed a siege in 1440 and, unfortunately, was severely damaged by the 1755 earthquake, falling into ruins. Interestingly, in the 19th century, its parade ground even served as a local cemetery. Recognized for its historical importance, it has been a National Monument since 1922 and was subject to extensive restoration work in the 1940s, which brought it to our days in a good state of preservation.

Interior Details and Surprises

At the heart of the castle lies the vast parade ground, where a large cistern stands out, a testament to medieval engineering for ensuring water supply. The towers, some of which housed dungeons on their lower levels, also preserve traces of interesting medieval mural paintings, revealing geometric patterns and representations of knights, an unexpected artistic detail. Outside the main walls, but adjoining one of the towers, is the small Chapel of Saint John the Baptist, built in 1556, with its round-arch entrance and an interior that displays a coffered vault decorated with grotesque elements and a late-Renaissance altarpiece.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt