Approximately in the same latitude as Lisbon, Elvas (altitude: 300m/985ft) is an old fortress town near the Spanish frontier and set amid rich fruit orchards and olive groves. To counter its Spanish opposite number, Badajoz, the town was ever more strongly fortified from the late medieval period onwards, and in the 17th and 18th centuries was
still further reinforced by powerful forts, which are among the best preserved and most impressive of their period in Portugal.
Nowadays the center for marketing the agricultural produce of the fertile surrounding area, Elvas is also popular with tourists and has several fairly large hotels in the middle of town, set in pleasant gardens.
While in Elvas it is worth trying the local delicacy of candied plums.
Townscape
Within its massive walls Elvas has retained much of its original Moorish character, and in and around the alleys of the old town there are still houses with elegant iron window grilles, fine archways and many picturesque squares.
The town revolves around the Praça da República; on its south side stands the old 16th century town hall with a small regional museum and the tourist information center.
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