Wall of Pontevedra, Medieval defensive wall in Pontevedra, Spain.
The Wall of Pontevedra is a medieval defensive structure with preserved stone sections that run along Avenida Arzobispo Malvar, reaching up to 7 meters (23 feet) high in places. Some portions still display the crenellated tops that were typical of fortifications from this period.
Construction of this fortification began in the 13th century and continued through several expansions until the 15th century as the city grew. These successive building phases show how the settlement gained importance and population over two centuries.
The wall's gates were demolished in a set order: Trabancas first, then Santa María in 1852, Galera in 1854 and Santo Domingo in 1856. The Santo Domingo gate was sold to the Treasury and moved to the former St Francis convent as its main entrance. The Savoy café now displays a wall section beside the old Trabancas gate.
The visible sections are mainly along a central street and are easy to reach on foot. It helps to allow some time to walk through and see the different preserved parts and understand how they fit into the city layout.
Recent urban renovations uncovered additional wall sections that had been built into modern buildings throughout the city center over the decades. You can now spot these old stones incorporated into contemporary structures at various points around the city.
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