Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Alcántara

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge. In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights. Maimon II is one of more than 40 dolmens in the Alcantara area. Originally covered by mounds (tumuli) of stones, earth and grass, the burial sites date back to the late Neolithic or early Copper Age (around 4200-3500 BC). Over time, the mounds were eroded by natural forces and by humans. The chamber consisted of 10 supporting stones and has a diameter of 2.3 metres. The remaining height of the removed slabs is about 1.0 metres. The passage has four preserved orthostats on the left side and six on the right.

Peña Buraca is an archaeological site located near Alcántara that had been mistakenly traditionally identified with a prehistoric sanctuary. Large groups of Iberian pigs (cerdo ibérico) populate the surrounding forests and roam around there. The black pigs mainly eat acorns - and end up being processed into pata negra.

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge. In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights. Peña Buraca is an archaeological site located near Alcántara that had been mistakenly traditionally identified with a prehistoric sanctuary, It receives its name from a rock that houses and that has two large cavities known as "eyes". According to the remains found, the site was inhabited in the late Roman and early medieval periods. There are abundant wine presses excavated in the rock and numerous tombs carved in stone.

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge. In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights. Peña Buraca is an archaeological site located near Alcántara that had been mistakenly traditionally identified with a prehistoric sanctuary, It receives its name from a rock that houses and that has two large cavities known as "eyes". According to the remains found, the site was inhabited in the late Roman and early medieval periods. There are abundant wine presses excavated in the rock and numerous tombs carved in stone.

Valencia de Alcántara is a small town (pop. 5000) just 8 kilometres from the border with Portugal. As more than 40 megalithic dolmens in the surrounding area prove, the area was already inhabited in the Neolithic period. Around 1213, the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX of León. At the end of the 15th century the town was incorporated into the Spanish crown. Dolmen la Barca

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge (see previous uploads). In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights.

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge (see previous uploads). In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights.

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge (see previous uploads). In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights. Santa María de Almocóvar is the parish church from the 13th century During the Andalusian period, the local mosque stood here, which was used as a church after the reconquest in 1213. In 1254, the Order of Alcántara decided to demolish the building and begin construction of the church, of which some Romanesque elements have been preserved. Today's predominantly Baroque church dates back to important renovation work carried out between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge (see previous uploads). In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights. Santa María de Almocóvar is the parish church from the 13th century During the Andalusian period, the local mosque stood here, which was used as a church after the reconquest in 1213. In 1254, the Order of Alcántara decided to demolish the building and begin construction of the church, of which some Romanesque elements have been preserved. Today's predominantly Baroque church dates back to important renovation work carried out between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge (see previous uploads). In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights. In 1488, the order's council decided to build a new monastery. Construction began in 1505 and lasted for most of the 16th century. In 1706, it was sacked during the War of Spanish Succession, and it was damaged by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. After the Spanish confiscation in 1835, it was abandoned and began to fall into ruin. 1961 it was acquired by Hidroeléctrica Española, which restored it and occupied the structure until 1966. In 1985 it went to the "Fundación San Benito de Alcántara". The Gothic vaults of the convent´s church

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge (see previous uploads). In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights. In 1488, the order's council decided to build a new monastery. Construction began in 1505 and lasted for most of the 16th century. In 1706, it was sacked during the War of Spanish Succession, and it was damaged by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. After the Spanish confiscation in 1835, it was abandoned and began to fall into ruin. 1961 it was acquired by Hidroeléctrica Española, which restored it and occupied the structure until 1966. In 1985 it went to the "Fundación San Benito de Alcántara". There is an exhibition about the various knightly orders in the church

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge (see previous uploads). In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights. In 1488, the order's council decided to build a new monastery. Construction began in 1505 and lasted for most of the 16th century. In 1706, it was sacked during the War of Spanish Succession, and it was damaged by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. After the Spanish confiscation in 1835, it was abandoned and began to fall into ruin. 1961 it was acquired by Hidroeléctrica Española, which restored it and occupied the structure until 1966. In 1985 it went to the "Fundación San Benito de Alcántara".

Alcántara is a small Spanish town (pop 1500) that got its name from the Arabs for the nearby Roman bridge (see previous uploads). In 1213 the area was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX. A few years later the place came under the command of the Alcántara Knights. In 1488, the order's council decided to build a new monastery. Construction began in 1505 and lasted for most of the 16th century. In 1706, it was sacked during the War of Spanish Succession, and it was damaged by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. After the Spanish confiscation in 1835, it was abandoned and began to fall into ruin. 1961 it was acquired by Hidroeléctrica Española, which restored it and occupied the structure until 1966. In 1985 it went to the "Fundación San Benito de Alcántara".

The "Puente de Alcántara" is considered the most important surviving Roman bridge structure. The bridge stretches 194 meters in length with six arches of different widths. Its 8-meter-wide roadway is approximately 50 meters above the Tajo River, and the total height of the structure is 71 meters. Towards the middle of the bridge, there is a 14-meter-high honorary arch dedicated to Emperor Trajan. The road bridge, which is still in use today, was built in about five years during the time of Emperor Trajan. It was probably completed in 105 or 106 AD. The small temple next to the bridge is one of only two fully preserved Roman temples on the Iberian Peninsula. It contains the tomb of the bridge's builder, Caius Iulius Lacer, probably a Roman military engineer. The Romans already recognized Lacer's genius. Inside there is a stone tablet with the inscription: "Pontem perpetui mansurum in saecula mundi fecit divina nobilis arte Lacer" The bridge to stay forever in the centuries of the eternal course of the world, the praiseworthy Lacer created with divine art...

The "Puente de Alcántara" is considered the most important surviving Roman bridge structure. The bridge stretches 194 meters in length with six arches of different widths. Its 8-meter-wide roadway is approximately 50 meters above the Tajo River, and the total height of the structure is 71 meters. Towards the middle of the bridge, there is a 14-meter-high honorary arch dedicated to Emperor Trajan. The road bridge, which is still in use today, was built in about five years during the time of Emperor Trajan. It was probably completed in 105 or 106 AD. The Arabs valued the bridge's structural and strategic importance so highly that they named the nearby settlement al-Qantara, meaning "the bridge." The geographer al-Idrisi described the bridge as one of the wonders of the world in his description of Spain in the 12th century. To the right is a small temple that contains the tomb of the bridge's builder, Caius Iulius Lacer, presumably a Roman military engineer. Along with the Temple of Vic, it is one of only two completely preserved Roman temples on the Iberian Peninsula.

The "Puente de Alcántara" is considered the most important surviving Roman bridge structure. The bridge stretches 194 meters in length with six arches of different widths. Its 8-meter-wide roadway is approximately 50 meters above the Tajo River, and the total height of the structure is 71 meters. Towards the middle of the bridge, there is a 14-meter-high honorary arch dedicated to Emperor Trajan. The road bridge, which is still in use today, was built in about five years during the time of Emperor Trajan. It was probably completed in 105 or 106 AD. The Arabs valued the bridge's structural and strategic importance so highly that they named the nearby settlement al-Qantara, meaning "the bridge." The geographer al-Idrisi described the bridge as one of the wonders of the world in his description of Spain in the 12th century.