Porto, Portugal — Southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula)

Cerca Primitiva / Early Wall

— Porto World Heritage —

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 31, 2023

1. Cerca Primitiva / Early Wall Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Em torno do Morro da Sé ergue-se a primitiva muralha medieval da cidade, construída nos sécs. XI-XII, sobre anteriores alinhamentos defensivos. Nesta muralha abriam-se as portas de Vandoma, de S. Sebastião e de Santana, bem como o postigo da Mentira, depois chamado "Porta das Verdades". Desta cerca restam apenas alguns trechos escondidos sob o casario, à excepção do troço junto a Vandoma.

The ancient mediaeval enclosure of the city, built in the XI-XIIth century, rises around the cathedral hill. It had three gates and a narrow entrance. It was probably built on the foundations of the ancient Goth defences. Apart from the remains next to Vandoma Square, the only other remains of the enclosure lay buried beneath today's houses.

(Marker Number 07.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the Porto World Heritage series list.

Location. 41° 8.586′ N, 8° 36.628′ W. Marker is in Porto. Marker is at the intersection

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of Calçada de Vendoma and Avenida Vimara Peres, on the left when traveling west on Calçada de Vendoma. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Porto 4000, Portugal. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Chafariz do Anjo / Angel Fountain (within shouting distance of this marker); Sé do Porto / Porto Cathedral (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Palácio dos Condes de Azevedo (about 120 meters away); Paço Episcopal / Bishop’s Palace (about 150 meters away); Torre de Rua de D. Pedro Pitões (about 150 meters away); Chafariz da Rua Escura / Fountain of Rua Escura (about 150 meters away); Rua das Flores / “Flowers Street” (about 210 meters away); Igreja da Ordem do Terço / Church of the Order of the Rosary (approx. 0.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Porto.

Also see . . . Muralha Primitiva (Wikipedia, in Portuguese).

Excerpt (in translation): Primitive Wall, Old Cerca or Romanesque Wall, are designations used to identify an ancient belt of walls in Porto, in Portugal, of which only a cubele and a small section remain, rebuilt in the mid-20th century.

For a long time known as the Suevian Wall, it is today identified as a work of Roman origin, from the 3rd century, rebuilt in the 12th century.

This fence, with an approximate perimeter of 750 meters and an area that did not reach 4 hectares, delimited the Pena Ventosa hill, which
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 31, 2023

2. Cerca Primitiva / Early Wall and Marker
had its nerve center in Porto Cathedral.

(Submitted on October 15, 2023.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 15, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.