that magical time at dusk

San Felices de los Gallegos, (Salamanca - Castilla y León), Spain

a building full of history

Simancas (Valladolid - Castilla y León), Spain

The Archive of Simancas holds and catalogs many of the historical documents that made Spain what it is today.

General Archive of Simancas

Simancas (Valladolid - Castilla y León), Spain

The first official archive for the Crown of Castille was founded in 1540 in the castle of Simancas.

dusk

Guimarães (Norte Region), Portugal

 

view from the castle

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

This time, as opposed to a previous post for Castelo de Vide, the view of this marvellous medieval town has been taken from the castle.

inside the castle walls

Alandroal, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

This late 13th century castle stands strong today with much of it still intact.  Take a walk around the castle walls and observe the landscape beyond.

towers and walls

Alandroal, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Alandroal is one of many fortified villages remaining along the border between Portugal and Spain, each one having its own unique qualities.  The castle here dates from the late 13th century.

standing tall

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

This medieval town, set on a hill in the São Mamede mountain range, was an important stronghold close to the Spanish border.  Today, it is a town full of charm where time seems to stand still.  It holds a castle dating from the 14th century, a beautiful Jewish quarter containing the oldest synagogue in Portugal as well as more than 30 churches and chapels, all to be found strolling through its winding cobbled streets.

Mértola from a distance

Mértola, (Region of Alentejo) Portugal

In this picture you can see the castle of Muslim origin, but reconstructed after the town was taken over by the Christians.  The once mosque, now a church, sits just below the castle to the right.  There are many excavations taking place today exhibiting numerous archaeological finds from Roman houses that existed next to the wall of the city as well as other objects (pottery, glassware, metalwork, coins) from the almost 500 years of Islamic rule.  Mértola is a museum in and of itself!

Coca

Coca, (Segovia - Castilla y León) Spain

This 15th century castle in Coca is one of the few fortresses that was not built on top of a hill.  It is made of brick, typical of Mudejar style architecture which emerged as an architectural style in the 12th century on the Iberian peninsula.  This style is the result of Muslim and Christian cultures living side by side and is considered a reinterpretation of Western cultural styles through Islamic influences.

Plaza del Coso

Peñafiel, (Valladolid - Castilla y León) Spain

This medieval square, called the Plaza del Coso, is found in the middle of Peñafiel and has been used for bullfighting, among other things, since the 15th century.  This makes it one of the oldest bullfighting rings still used in Spain.  Surrounding the square are private homes; however, since medieval times the right to use their windows and balconies during bullfights are owned by the town who auctions them off to the highest bidders.  Access to the square is by means of two streets.

In the distance you can see the 9th century castle of Peñafiel which currently hosts the Wine Museum of Valladolid.

Peñafiel

Peñafiel, (Valladolid - Castilla y León) Spain

This castle perched above the town of Peñafiel dates back to the 9th century.  It sits atop a hill full of interconnected underground cellars (bodegas) which were traditionally used to store wine to maintain it at constant temperatures.  The bodegas have chimney vents and can be seen throughout the castle area as well as all around the town.  Many of these bodegas are still used today.  This medieval town is in the heart of the Ribera del Duero wine region, containing a large number of wineries.  Today the castle holds the Wine Museum of Valladolid.

Castles

 Torrelobatón, (Valladolid - Castilla y León) Spain

This 13th century castle in Torrelobatón is one of many to be found throughout the countryside of Castilla y León.  It's worth it to go up the towers to feel the immensity of all that surrounds you and at the same time imagine what life was like back then.

Castle of Evoramonte

Evoramonte, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

After the Christians took over this area from the Moors in the 12th century, the castle of Evoramonte was built to protect the area from other invasions.  Set at almost 500 meters on a hill, this castle dates back to the year 1306, but was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1531.  The Italian Renaissance style influenced in its construction; however, the sculpture of strands of rope dividing the three floors of the castle and the knot tied in the middle are characteristic of Manueline (Portuguese late Gothic) style architecture.

The walls of Estremoz

Estremoz, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Estremoz is composed of two parts: upper and lower.  The "newer" and lower part of the city is surrounded by a wall built in the 17th century.  Fortified with a different set of walls, the older, upper part contains a castle built in the year 1258, later the residence of the then King Denis (Dinis) and Queen Saint Elizabeth (Isabel).  Today the castle area has been converted into a pousada, a series of luxury traditional or historical hotels found throughout Portugal.

Castle of Monsaraz

Monsaraz, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

One of over fifty castles along the Spanish-Portuguese border, the castle of Monsaraz was added to this fortress city in the year 1310.  Curiously, it houses a bullring today.