Castelo de Santarem

In Santarém, the so-called Castle of Santarém survives mainly in the remains of the walls and gates that surrounded the former citadel. The walled complex has its origins in the period of Muslim occupation and was consolidated and enlarged during the First Dynasty, after the Reconquest and in the reign of King Fernando. The stronghold was taken by King Afonso Henriques in 1147, a moment associated with the remodelling of its early structures. The castle included the Alcáçova enclosure and the walled perimeter of the town, with a partial barbican; its walls had gates and posterns that organised access. Today, at Portas do Sol, sections of wall, three towers and the former Porta do Sol remain, transformed into a panoramic balcony over the Tagus and the Lezíria. The Porta de Santiago, the castle’s main entrance, preserves its pointed arch and the city’s defensive memory. The complex is classified as a Property of Public Interest.