constructed in 1999 (in the north). Work to rehabilitate the facades of the historic centre were initiated at the same time, as part of the Aldeias Preservadas project, between the local government and the building's property-owners. Architecture The castle, implanted at the top of a hilltop and its walled fortifications encircling the settlement. Overlooking the Rio Côa, the cliffs of its flanks are without buildings, except along the southeastern roadway. It is relatively close to the castles of Almeida and Castelo Mendo. The irregular plan is almost rectangular, and includes a similarly irregular barbican with a curved face along the settlement wall (today incomplete), a sequence of almost continuous walls along the east and the flanks of the northwest and northeast. These final walls are missing merlons and various discontinuities, with various buildings addorsed to its walls. Some of these buildings also include stonework that could have been reused from the wall. The Town Gate consists of a curvilinear exterior and simple arch, with uneven pavement under a vaulted ceiling. On the interior wall, there is a lance of stairs providing access to the adarve and lateral rectangular tower, in ruins, on the west and north. Along the line of walls in the south, is a coat-of-arms of the ancient town, that was likely moved from its original location. Locally referred to as the Poço do Rei (the King's Pool), the cistern in situated in the south, consisting of a rectangular plan covered by tile. It is accessible from a door, the unique opening. In the interior, the space included a vaulted ceiling structured with two archways. The powder magazine, variously called the revelim, rebolim, rebolinho or polvorim, is circular plan in stonework and masonry, with door to the west. Two other pools provide support to the fortified courtyard: the Poço de Escada and the Poço de El-Rei. The first is situated in the Largo do Poço da Escada, and consists of an irregular square plan in masonry and in the southeast there is a nine-step stone slab staircase to the water, with the interior walls without decoration. The Poço d'El Rei situated in the square of the same name, is also rectangular and consists of a reservoir of grande dimensions in stonework, and covered by terrace, accessible by a double-flight of frontal stairs and landing. Over the terrace are two square openings, with stone guards, acting as light source.