Castle of Avis

Welcome to the historic town of Ah-veesh, a place whose name is inextricably linked to the Golden Age of Portuguese history and the dawn of the Age of Discovery. Situated roughly 140 kilometers east of Lisbon in the Alentejo…

You are standing at the Roo-ah Por-tash de Ev-or-ah, one of the primary historical entrances to the walled citadel. In the 13th century, this gate would have been a buzzing point of entry for the armed friars and settlers who…

Standing before you is the Tor-ray de Sow Row-kay, one of the three surviving towers of the original six that once protected Avis. This tower is a prime example of 13th-century military architecture, finished during the initial…

You are now amidst the ruins of the Mon-ash-teh-ryoo of the Order of Avis. It is a poignant experience to walk through these skeletal remains, which were once the spiritual and administrative heart of a powerful military order. …

The Church of Saint Benedict, or Igreja de San-too Ben-too, stands as the most intact religious structure within the Avis complex. While the original church was medieval, the current building is largely a product of 17th-century…

The building that currently houses the Avis City Hall has a grander past; it was once the residence of the Grand Master of the Order of Avis. As you look at the facade, imagine it as the home of Joao I before he was acclaimed…

The third of the surviving towers is the Tor-ray da Rain-yah, or the Queen's Tower, also known as the Tower of the Convent. It is located near the southern edge of the citadel, where the land begins to slope down toward the…

As we conclude our walk through Avis, we reflect on a small town that cast a giant shadow over world history. From the legend of the eagles to the global division of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, the House of Avis…