Elvas
Elvas (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɛlvɐʃ] ⓘ) is a Portuguese municipality, former episcopal city and frontier fortress of easternmost central Portugal, located in the district of Portalegre in Alentejo. It is situated about 200 kilometres (120 mi) east of Lisbon, and about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of the Spanish fortress of Badajoz, by the Madrid-Badajoz-Lisbon railway. The municipality population as of 2011 was 23,078, in an area of 631.29 square kilometres (243.74 sq mi). The city itself had a population of 16,640 as of 2011.
Elvas | |
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Municipality | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
| Coordinates: 38°52′N 7°09′W | |
| Country | Portugal |
| Region | Alentejo |
| Intermunic. comm. | Alto Alentejo |
| District | Portalegre |
| Parishes | 7 |
| Government | |
| • President | José António Rondão Almeida (PS) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 631.29 km2 (243.74 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 23,078 |
| • Density | 37/km2 (95/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC±00:00 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) |
| Local holiday | January 14 |
| Website | http://www.cm-elvas.pt |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Walls and fortifications of Elvas | |
| Official name | Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications |
| Location | Elvas, Portalegre District, Alentejo, Portugal |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iv) |
| Reference | 1367bis |
| Inscription | 2012 (36th Session) |
| Extensions | 2013 |
| Area | 179.356 ha (443.20 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 690 ha (1,700 acres) |
| Coordinates | 38°52′50.23″N 7°9′47.96″W |
Location of Elvas in Portugal | |
Elvas is among the finest examples of intensive usage of the trace italienne (star fort) in military architecture, and has been a World Heritage Site since 30 June 2012. The inscribed site name is Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications.