PORTEL
N 38.30523º; W 7.70672º
It is the seat of a municipality with an area of 601.01 km² and 6,428 inhabitants (2011), subdivided into 6 parishes. The municipality is limited to the north by the municipality of Évora, to the east by Reguengos de Monsaraz, to the south-east by Moura, to the south by Vidigueira, to the southwest by Cuba, and to the west by Viana do Alentejo.
Portel is located in the hottest part of Portugal, in the Summer. But, even so, it is still less hot than the interior regions of Spain. The city benefited greatly from the construction of the nearby Alqueva Dam, which gave rise to the largest artificial lake in Europe.
Portel seems to have been inhabited by Romans and perhaps Phoenicians, explorers of metal mines, and its remains are still visible at the Algares site.
It was inhabited by Arabs and Moors who left as remains of their presence the rammed earth walls that are already in ruins.
During periods of war against the Moors and Castilians, the inhabitants sought protection within the castle walls, even coming to take up residence there.
In the reign of D. João I the war fear ended and the village rushed to build its houses in the south-north direction towards the castle.
Of the houses that were inside the castle, there is little or nothing but ruins and the report of the existence of three churches: S. João, S. Vicente, and S. Maria.
Portel seems to have been inhabited by Romans and perhaps Phoenicians, explorers of metal mines, and its remains are still visible at the Algares site.
It was inhabited by Arabs and Moors who left as remains of their presence the rammed earth walls that are already in ruins.
During periods of war against the Moors and Castilians, the inhabitants sought protection within the castle walls, even coming to take up residence there.
In the reign of D. João I the war fear ended and the village rushed to build its houses in the south-north direction towards the castle.
Of the houses that were inside the castle, there is little or nothing but ruins and the report of the existence of three churches: S. João, S. Vicente, and S. Maria.
