Category: Military Architecture > Fortress
District: Portalegre > Elvas > Elvas > Bairro Rui de Mello
The Santa Bárbara Powder Magazine is located in the historic city of Elvas, right in the Rui de Mello Quarter. Its elevated position on the Costa da Vila Fria integrates it into the city's complex network of fortifications, specifically in the bastion that gave it its name, near the citadel's northern wall. The urban surroundings are marked by the grandeur of Elvas' defenses, a World Heritage site.
Built in the 17th century, during the Restoration War (1640-1668), the Santa Bárbara Powder Magazine became Elvas' largest and most crucial structure for storing gunpowder and military material. Its military relevance lasted for centuries, serving this strategic purpose until 1915, which underscores Elvas' continued importance as a fortress city.
The construction of the Santa Bárbara Powder Magazine demonstrates a remarkable concern for security and resilience. Its massive walls, approximately 12 palmos thick, and the ingenious "bomb-proof" design of the roof are testaments to this defensive philosophy. During sieges, the roof could be filled with earth, vine bundles, or manure to mitigate the impact of projectiles, an advanced technique for its time. The entirely vaulted interior included a sophisticated ventilation system, with chicane vents, crucial for the stability of the stored material. Later modifications, such as the closing of wide windows to narrow slits, further reinforced its defensive capability.
The Santa Bárbara Powder Magazine stands out not only for its functionality but also for its architectural elements. Enclosed by a robust firewall, which provided additional protection, the main access is through an imposing portal. This classical-style portal features a round arch flanked by pilasters and culminates in a pediment displaying the Portuguese coat of arms. Above the door, a niche once housed the image of Saint Barbara, a figure revered as the patron saint of artillerymen. Also noteworthy are the gargoyles on the facades and the later addition of lightning rods in the mid-19th century, a detail reflecting the evolution of safety practices of the time.
Despite its external robustness, the interior of the powder magazine reveals a careful and functional organization. The building has a rectangular plan, with a large main warehouse and two interconnected adjacent rooms: the 'weighing room' and the 'overflow room', each with specific functions in the process of receiving and storing explosives. These spaces, all vaulted, are a testament to the ingenious military architecture of the period. The walls still preserve the vestiges of the openings where the shelves for the safe placement of gunpowder were fitted.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.88371382, -7.16268874
Coordinates DMS: 38°53'1.4"N 07°09'45.7"W
On-duty Pharmacy Elvas
