UNESCO World Heritage in Portugal

Torre de Belém

Portugal currently has 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 14 of which belong to the cultural heritage and one to the natural heritage. The Atlantic island of Madeira is home to the only Portuguese natural heritage site. Two World Heritage Sites are located in the Azores, the remaining 12 on the Portuguese mainland. In 1983, the first four sites were added to the World Heritage List. The most recent World Heritage Site was registered in 2006.
Continue reading “UNESCO World Heritage in Portugal”

Elvas: Largest Bulwark Fortifications in the World

Elvas: Largest Bulwark Fortifications in the World

Near the Spanish border, Elvas is home to the world’s largest preserved bastion fortifications. Together with the entire historic center, these have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012. After Elvas was developed as a strategic point to one of the major strongholds of the country, the town was repeatedly the scene of the Restoration War, which broke out as a result of the revolution of 1640. Continue reading “Elvas: Largest Bulwark Fortifications in the World”