Almeida () is a fortified village and a municipality in the sub-region of Beira Interior Norte and the District of Guarda, Portugal. The town proper has a population of 1,300 people (2011). The municipality population in 2011 was 7,242, in an area of . It is located in Riba-Côa river valley. The present Mayor is António Baptista Ribeiro, elected by the Social Democratic Party. The municipal holiday is July 2.
Location
The village lies west of the border with Spain and straddles the N332 road. The Rio Côa run northwards a short distance to the west of the village. The town's castle fortress was completed in 1641 and is located to the north of the village and is approached through the two tunnel gates and dry moat named the Portas de São Francisco.
Twin town
Mutzig, Bas-Rhin, France
History
In and around the environment of Almeida, evidence of Human occupation can be found back to the Bronze Age and Iron Age. Evidence has also been found of Roman occupation followed by the Suevi and the Visigoths.
The first fortification constructed in the settlement were constructed by the Muslims who occupied the village until Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. It was during this time that the current name was first used, in the form of the Arabic المائدة al-Ma'ida ('the table'). This name refers to a legend that an ornate bejeweled table captured by Tariq ibn Ziyad was the dining table of King Solomon.
Sancho I, The Populator
The village of Almeida was captured from the Moors by the second king of Portugal, Sancho I in the 12th century because of its strategic position on the new country of Portugal's border with Spain. So important to the security of the country, Sancho had the village heavily fortified. The castle was refortified on three further occasions by King Dinis, King Manuel I and by King João VI. The present 12 pointed star fortification was constructed in 1641 to a Vaubanesque plan on which the French military engineer is believed to have personally worked, during the castle's final stages of completion.
Spanish occupation
During the Seven Years' War (1754 to 1763) which involved most of the great powers of Europe, Spain with the help of France launched an attack on Portugal due to its alliance with Great Britain. As a result of the invasion Almeida was captured by Spain in 1762.
Almeida Fortress
The fortress around the town guards an important cross-border road from Spain, and underwent several sieges. The siege of 1810, during the Peninsular War, ended spectacularly when a chance shell ignited the main gunpowder magazine, which exploded, killing 500 defenders and destroying most of the town.
Classified Heritage
See main article: Label: Lista de património edificado em Almeida
National Monuments
Walls of the Square of Almeida (National Monument since February 3, 1928) Castle of Castelo Bom (National Monument since 2 January 1946) Castle of Castelo Mendo (National Monument since 2 January 1946)
Buildings of public interest
Castelo Mendo Village (IIP since 25 June 1984) Pillory of Castelo Mendo (IIP since 11 October 1933) Pillory of Vale de Coelha (IIP since 11 October 1933) Church of Saint Michael (Malhada Sorda - IIP since 31 December 1997) Necropolis of graves excavated in the rock (Malpartida - IIP since 31 December 1997) Church of Our Lady da Annunciation (Leomil - IIP since 10 February 2014) Anta da Pedra de Anta (TL: Dolmen of the Rock of Dolmen) (Malhada Sorda - IIP since 8 October 2015)
Other monuments and museums
Picadeiro D'el Rey (Almeida) (Loose Translation: King's Riding Arena) Casamatas(tl: casemates) / Historical-Military Museum of Almeida Quartel das Esquadras (Almeida) (tl: Barracks of the Police Stations) Almeida Centre for the Study of Military Architecture (CEAMA) Malhada Sorda's Esnoga
See external links:
Economy
The primary sector is the main source of wealth of the municipality of Almeida, similarly to the neighbouring municipalities of the interior. The agricultural and horticultural sector predominates as a complement to other family incomes, in which the smallholding stands out. Given its characteristics, combined with economic and social factors, it has low productivity levels.
Livestock comprises about 30 000 cattle and 10 000 sheep and goats.
The food, wood and marble and granite processing industries are the most representative, although in general this sector is characterised by low productivity and occupies only about 5% of the working population of the municipality.