Castle of Cacela

Parish de
Vila Nova de Cacela

Background

Preliminary archaeological research shows that the primitive human occupation of this peninsula dates back to pre-Roman times, successively by Cunaeans, Phoenicians and Carthaginians, linked to fishing activities and trade. After the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the conquerors maintained a military base here, a period from which the population of the interior became denser.

During the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula by Islamic forces under the general command of Tariq (712), the regions of Beja and the Algarve were dominated the following year by Abdalaziz ibn Musa, with the Algarve coast remaining in the hands of Yemeni and Syrian clans. The area of Cacela was dominated by members of the Banu Darrâj group, and its privileged location gave it regional importance, becoming the regional headquarters around the 10th century. It is believed that, during the Caliphate, the Cacela alfoz extended as far as the current municipality of Alcoutim, encompassing manors and castles, such as the Old Castle of Alcoutim and the Castle of Relíquias, located in pastoral and mining areas. These castles were part of a defensive system associated with a strong political and administrative concern for centralization and territorial planning.

The town is mentioned in the "Roteiro" by the Arab geographer Dreses at the beginning of the 12th century, which describes the Algarve: "Cacela is a fortress built on the seashore. It is well populated and there are many vegetable gardens and fields of fig trees." At that time, changes in the sandbanks of the Ria Formosa were already damaging the anchorage at Cacela, in favor of that at neighboring Tavira.

The medieval castle

In the 13th century, the Muslim fortification of Cacela initially fell into disuse, although it still maintained relative military importance, having been one of the last positions conquered by the Christian forces of Portugal in the Algarve. In the Royal Curia, meeting in Santarém, with the consent of his wife, D. Beatriz, King Afonso III of Portugal (1248-1279) donated this castle, together with the Castle of Ayamonte, to the Master of the Order of Santiago, D. Paio Peres Correia (20 February 1255). From then on, the Order carried out reconstruction and expansion works.

From the Fort to our days

In ruins, in the 16th century, the castle was rebuilt by order of D. João III or Sebastian, King of Portugal. It is known that the latter personally inspected the works in 1573. During this period it certainly received bastioned lines, in the style of the time. A little later, however, reports from 1617 indicate that its walls were in ruins on the side of the cliff; by 1750 the fortification was in ruins, having suffered extensive damage from the 1755 earthquake.

The current defensive structure, of small dimensions, dates back to the end of the 18th century. It has a plan in the shape of a star-shaped polygon, with two bastions overlooking the sea. During this period, the municipal headquarters was extinguished, which demonstrates the loss of importance of the town.

Features

There are few documentary and architectural remains that allow an effective delimitation of the original Muslim wall, made of rammed earth, but it is estimated that it corresponded to an area of around 0.5 hectares.

Some sections of the wall of the old medieval castle can be seen in the northern and eastern sectors of the historic center, with an approximately oval plan, of reduced dimensions.

The main structures of the castle, in Gothic style, as well as the original church, were replaced by later buildings. Part of the wall built by the Order of Santiago is currently submerged.