Castle of Vila Viçosa

The Castle of Vila Viçosa was built by order of King Afonso III in the 13th century, in a strategic position overlooking the Alentejo plains. Its original mission was to defend the Portuguese border against the Kingdom of Castile, a role it fulfilled for centuries.

The castle follows a classic medieval layout, with a well-preserved keep and walls that still partially encircle the historic village centre. For generations, the castle served as the residence of the Counts and later Dukes of Braganza, before they commissioned the construction of the Ducal Palace.

Remarkably, it was within these very walls that D. Afonso I of Braganza — the founder of the House of Braganza — was born in 1377. The castle today houses the Archaeology Museum, with collections spanning several millennia of human occupation in the region, from prehistory to the modern era. The view from the top of the keep over the endless Alentejo plains, olive groves, and orange orchards is simply unforgettable.