Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Battle of the Lines

Elvas is a Portuguese town near the Spanish border, about 15 km west of Badajoz, Spain. Extensively fortified from the 17th to 19th centuries, the site represents the largest fortified dry moat system in the world. Within its city walls are barracks and other military buildings as well as churches and monasteries. The fortification of Elvas began during the Portuguese Restoration War. The fortifications played an important role in the Battle of the Lines of Elvas in 1659. The fortifications were designed by the Dutch Jesuit Padre João Piscásio Cosmander and represent the best surviving example of the Dutch fortification school anywhere. UNESCO added the fortifications and the entire historic center of the city to the World Heritage List in 2012. The Arabs used the water of the Alcalá Well. However, from the 15th century onwards, due to the increase in population, the well was no longer sufficient to supply the city with water. The local council considered building an aqueduct that would transport water from the outskirts of the city, at the Amoreira site, to the city center. In 1537, João III commissioned. of Portugal Francisco de Arruda with the execution of the project for the new Elvas Aqueduct. Work began the same year but after some years the work became increasingly expensive, although the taxes charged to the city's residents to build the aqueduct increased over the years. In 1547 the work stopped due to lack of money and only resumed in 1571. This second construction campaign lasted until 1580, when the accession of Philip I of Portugal led to another interruption of work. Work resumed at the beginning of the 17th century and around 1610 it was concluded that the project of the aqueduct needed to be changed to give it more height. This decision further delayed the completion of the work. Finally, in 1620, the first water flowed through the aqueduct within the city walls.

Elvas is a Portuguese town near the Spanish border, about 15 km west of Badajoz, Spain. Extensively fortified from the 17th to 19th centuries, the site represents the largest fortified dry moat system in the world. Within its city walls are barracks and other military buildings as well as churches and monasteries. The fortification of Elvas began during the Portuguese Restoration War. The fortifications played an important role in the Battle of the Lines of Elvas in 1659. The fortifications were designed by the Dutch Jesuit Padre João Piscásio Cosmander and represent the best surviving example of the Dutch fortification school anywhere. UNESCO added the fortifications and the entire historic center of the city to the World Heritage List in 2012.