Fernandina Wall

Category: Military Architecture > Walls

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Ribeira

Location

Situated in the city of Porto, municipality of Porto, the Fernandine Wall is a significant historical element of the Ribeira area, one of the city's most emblematic districts. Although much of its original length no longer exists, the remaining sections offer a unique perspective on urban evolution and Porto's relationship with the Douro River.

The most visible segments of the wall can be found in the Guindais area, where its robust granite walls rise above the escarpment, providing panoramic views of the Douro River and the riverside landscape. Other vestiges are detected near the Escadas do Caminho Novo and integrated into the urban fabric of the old city, maintaining their discreet yet significant presence.

A Medieval Legacy

Popularly known as the Fernandine Wall, this robust defensive structure is also designated as the New Enclosure or Gothic Wall. Its construction, initiated in 1336 under the reign of D. Afonso IV, was a response to the growing expansion of the city of Porto, which surpassed the limits of the primitive Old Enclosure. Completed around 1370, during the reign of D. Fernando I, hence the name by which it is mostly known, the wall became a symbol of the vitality and the commercial and maritime importance of medieval Porto.

The need to protect a growing city, with intense commercial activity on the riverside of the Douro, led to the construction of this vast defensive belt. The Fernandine Wall thus represented a significant advance in the city's military architecture, adapting to the security demands of a community in full effervescence.

Architecture and Scale

When completed, the Fernandine Wall presented an impressive perimeter of approximately 2600 meters and an average height of nine meters. Characterized by its construction in granite, the wall was equipped with projecting battlements, several square turrets, and towers, some of which rose considerably above the wall itself, reinforcing its imposing appearance and defensive capability.

This medieval enclosure originally possessed a set of seventeen gates and posterns, crucial points of access and control to the city. Today, most of these openings have disappeared due to urban development, but one of its most notable vestiges is the Postigo do Carvão, located in Ribeira, a unique example of the original architecture that remains visible and accessible.

Preserved Memories

From the 18th century onwards, with the decline of its military importance and the need for city expansion, the Fernandine Wall began to be progressively dismantled. Most of the demolitions occurred at the end of the 19th century, making way for new streets, squares, and buildings that shaped modern Porto. Despite these transformations, the sections that remain were classified as a National Monument in 1926, recognizing their undeniable historical and heritage value.

Walking along the remnants of the wall is a way to connect with Porto's medieval past, imagining the city's life protected by these walls. The fragments that have withstood time offer an opportunity to contemplate the resilience and evolution of the city, inviting reflection on the layers of history that the city holds.

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