Castelo de Idanha-a-Velha

Castelo de Idanha-a-Velha is a medieval fortress standing on high ground in a historic village in central Portugal. The ruins feature defensive walls, towers, and stone structures from different historical periods side by side.

The settlement at this location dates back to ancient times when a Roman town called Civitas Igaeditanorum thrived here. The fortress structure was built later during the medieval period and subsequently rebuilt several times.

The fortress reflects different building styles layered over centuries, showing how various communities left their mark on the site. Walking through the ruins, you can observe these different periods in the stone and layout itself.

The site is open for exploration and you can walk through the ruins at your own pace while also seeing the surrounding historic village. It makes sense to combine your visit with exploring the entire village, which contains other notable historic structures.

This location holds one of Portugal's largest collections of Roman stone inscriptions, which document everyday life and the administration of the ancient town. These carved texts tell stories of people who lived here nearly 2.000 years ago.