Castle of Mirandela

Parish of Mirandela

Background

It is to the reign of Denis of Portugal and the turn of the 14th century that the construction of the castle. Unfortunately, little remains of him. In 1530, less than a century after it was renovated, the structure already showed signs of ruin, with multiple parts knocked down. To the references to the monument's decline became more pronounced in modern times and, in 1706, Carvalho da Costa also mentions the existence of three gates - Porta or Arco de Santiago; Saint Anthony's Gate and St. Joseph's Gate.

The medieval castle

The first documentary reference to Mirandela testifies to the presence of Sancho I of Portugal (1185-1211), during the siege imposed on Bragança by the forces of King Afonso IX of Leon (1198).

During the reign of Afonso III of Portugal (1248-1279), the granting of a Charter to village (May 25, 1250).

The first major construction campaign experienced by the town dates back to the reign of D. Dinis (1279-1325), when the village was transferred to its current location (1282). THE The sovereign granted it a new charter, delimiting the boundaries of the Council (Coimbra, 7 March of 1291) and establishing a fair (c. 1295). It is believed that the sovereign determined build a castle on top of the hill, where the Távora Palace was later built, and the village fence. This castle would consist of a simple keep protected by a Barbican.

During the crisis of 1383-1385 the town and its castle sided with the Master of Avis.

Manuel I of Portugal (1495-1521) gave it a New Charter, issued in Lisbon on 1 July 1512. early 18th century, Father António Carvalho da Costa recorded: The villa of Mirandela surrounded and the fence in parts derived (Portuguese Chorography and description) topographical view of the famous Kingdom of Portugal. Lisbon, 1712.) Another contemporary author, J. Alvarez Colmenar, refers to Mirandela as being located on the banks of the Tuela River, defended by a castle (1715).

With the loss of its strategic-defensive function, and the economic development of the region, the urban progress broke the belt of medieval walls, which gave way to streets and new sunny residences, a process that accelerated in the last quarter of the 19th century.

In our days

The remains of the medieval enclosure, represented by the so-called Porta de Santo Antônio, were listed as a Property of Public Interest by Decree published on October 20, 1955.

Mirandela was elevated to the status of city in 1984.

Architecture

The Porta de Santo Antônio is the remaining one of a set of three that were torn into the fence medieval village. In a raised pointed ogival arch, in granite and mortared schist stonework, with dimensions of 2.60 m high by 1.80 m wide, it is topped by the terrace of a residence in private hands, but which corresponds to a section of the original battlement. Through it, the Street of Santo Antônio, the busiest part of the medieval village, was connected to the bridge (built in the 14th century). and with the river.

On the inside of the arch you can still see the grooves that received the hinges of the old iron gate.

There are still traces of sections of the wall, just a few rows of stone, visible supporting the bow. Opposite this door, approximately fifteen meters away, another opened, in a remnant of a Barbican, demolished in 1884, to build a family mansion in its place Araujo Leite.