Although one can not say whether a primitive village was abandoned and reoccupied, or if your Christian stand was late, it is certain that Vila Viçosa received from D. Afonso III (1248-1279) its a charter, last on 5 June 1270. will date from this time, the start of construction of his castle, his son and successor, King Dinis (1279-1325), will give an effective boost, ending his building and making pry around the village.

In the reign of D. Fernando I (1367-1383), as has been done in many castles of the kingdom, has made significant improvements in Vila Viçosa fortification.

Church of the Convent Lóios in Arraiolos. Tile panels that completely cover the walls are by Gabriel del Barco

Understood in the territory on the left bank of the Guadiana river, stands in a dominant position on the ancient medieval village. Its walls unveil up the surrounding plain with the Monsaraz Castle to the north, and the border with Spain in the east.

After the Portuguese conquest of the region, their fields were donated to the Knights Hospitaller, being assigned to your Prior, Gonçalo Egas, the grant of the first a charter to the town, in order to encourage their settlement and defense (1226). Will date from this period, under the reign of Sancho II (1223-1248), the construction or reconstruction of the fortification.

A new charter was granted to the town by King Afonso III (1248-1279) in 1254.

Under the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), the Mourao village received a new charter (1296), confirmed in 1298. In this period, the original castle was renovated, starting to count with three towers.

In one of the buttresses of Portel saw, stands in a dominant position on the medieval village. Nearby worth visiting, beyond the castle, the Church of the True Cross, the caves of Algar and the Alqueva dam.

Construction work started then, have continued under the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), when, after late prime, emerging feud between the heirs for possession of honor, the castle reverted to the possession of the Crown, by barter between the sovereign and D. Navy, widow of John Aboim dated 9 January 1289.1 in this sovereign is assigned yet, the erection of the fence of the village.

In 1250, received its first charter by King Afonso III, in 1318 this charter was renewed by D. Dinis and in 1516 had new Charter granted by King Manuel I.

With regard to the historical and monumental heritage, there is the Round the Castle (traces), which maintains the primitive walls, the doors of Ravessa and Clock and remains of Alcaidaria, with ogival cracks. The bell tower was built in the reign of King John II.

The Redondo Castle consists of a square huge about 60 m away, in the south door is formed by a Roman round arch.

Considered as one of the most important towers built during the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern age, is in the old manor house on the homestead of Mendes de Vasconcelos, noble family on the rise in Court, linked to the House of Braganza in the second half of the sixteenth century .

The Esporão has its limits since 2 May 1267. The tower was erected by Morgado Álvaro Mendes de Vasconcelos, between the years 1457 and 1490, dates correspond to the time of possession of the squire and his death. Álvaro Mendes was home rider of the Duke of Bragança and governor of the city of Évora.

This is a very old Marian shrine, judging that may result from the pagan cults of Christianization, as close to the Terena village remain the ruins of the temple of the god Endovelicus. Historical references to this temple dating back to the thirteenth century, as the Cantigas de Santa Maria of King Alfonso X of Castile, there are some compositions dedicated to Santa Maria de Terena.

The temple is the fourteenth century work, possessing the characteristic of being a Portuguese rare example of fortified church has come largely intact today. The origin of the invocation Lady of Good News appears to be linked to the legend of Fermosíssima Maria (Dona Maria, Queen of Castile), the daughter of King Afonso IV of Portugal who went to the Portuguese court to ask your father that would help her husband in the Battle of Salado. Legend has it that the Queen stood on this site, in the vicinity of Terena, when he received the good news, there was born the invocation Good News. The cult remains very much alive, and this sanctuary scene of a popular pilgrimage that is celebrated the first weekend after the Easter week. The importance of this pilgrimage in the region is of such importance that the Monday of Pascoela (main day of the festival) is the municipal holiday Alandroal county.

The Sanctuary is a gem of religious architecture of the fourteenth century fortified church of cruciform plan, rare in Portugal [as defined by Mário Chicó, see the Flower Monastery of the Rose and the Church of the True Cross Marmelar], built on strong ashlar granite, crowned and Muslim battlements. In the northern facades, south and west, open up gates of pointed arches, Gothic and medieval narrow cracks, topped by defensive counters, with boulders (where it poured boiling liquids, in case of attack), decorated with real weapons stones Portuguese. The whole of the main facade is still ennobled by simple bell tower, added in the eighteenth century. The temple was originally from Avis Order of patronage, as grantees had after the Counts of Vila Nova (Portimão).

It is considered, along with the Castle of Alvito, one of the most remarkable fortified architectural ensembles of the late Gothic period. Your name, Viana do Alentejo, binds to the noble title of the Meneses family, First Count of Viana, who stood out in the Portuguese campaigns of Morocco in the fifteenth century.

At the time of the Christian reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, the town was conquered by the Portuguese forces under the command of King Sancho I (1185-1211). Aiming its repopulation and defense, the sovereign granted him Foral Charter in 1203. It is believed that the construction of the medieval castle has been started at this stage.

At the time of King Dinis (1279-1325) were launched major reforms in the town’s defenses, including the construction of the fence of the village, completed in 1365.

Established Avis Order, the Montemor-o-Novo domain constituted landlord the Constable D. Nuno Alvares Pereira.