Discover the Revelim de Santo António in Almeida: Military architecture with over 300 metres of history

CARVALHO, José Vilhena de (1988) – Almeida – Subsídios para a sua História. 2 vols. Almeida: Câmara Municipal de Almeida.CAMPOS, João (2007) – Portas e Poternas da Praça-forte. Almeida: Câmara Municipal de Almeida.

Did you know that the Revelim de Santo António in Almeida is made up of a lunette with ridges stretching 310 metres?

This impressive defensive structure includes collars, escarpments and counter-escarpments covered in stonework, a barbette on the projection, parapets and stools, and is surrounded by a 15.50 metre wide moat.

It is in this revelim that the Portas Externas de Santo António are located. The rectilinear traffic in this area has a track dividing the space, whose walls are decorated with 16 arrows, designed for firing muskets, rifles or billy clubs, extending to the external façade to protect access to the bridge.

Inside, there are two compartments on either side of the road, originally intended for the Corpos de Guarda and the prison, both with fireplaces and, on the left, a storeroom.

A sentry box is attached to the interior façade, reinforcing the site's surveillance and security. Did you also know that the Almeida Centre for the Study of Military Architecture now operates in this same space?

If you're not yet familiar with this remarkable example of bastioned military architecture, we invite you to visit and discover the history and engineering that marked the defence of Portugal.