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It was ordered to be erected in 1641 by El-Rei D. João IV, after the restoration, with a view to the defense of the city of Elvas and the Kingdom. For its construction, the hill of Santa Luzia was chosen because it is a place that, when occupied by the enemy, could put the integrity of the city at risk.
It has a rectangular plan with pentagonal bastions at the vertices, in the Vauban style. The bastions are invoked by Santo António, Santa Isabel, São Pedro and Nossa Senhora da Conceição, with guardhouses at the projecting angles. On the fronts facing east and south, there are two revelins named Badajoz and Poterna respectively
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The site, extensively fortified from the 17th to 19th centuries, represents the largest bulwarked dry-ditch system in the world. Within its walls, the town contains barracks and other military buildings as well as churches and monasteries. While Elvas contains remains dating back to the 10th century ad, its fortification began when Portugal regained independence in 1640. The fortifications designed by Dutch Jesuit padre Cosmander represent the best surviving example of the Dutch school of fortifications anywhere. The site also contains the Amoreira aqueduct, built to enable the stronghold to withstand lengthy sieges.UNESCO
