gates of the fortification bastioned of badajoz.

THE FORTIFIEDS GATES OF THE BASTIONED FORTIFICATION OF BADAJOZ

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The monument of the bastion fortification was naturally a closed enclosure, whose obvious function was to make it difficult to enter the city. The best known door and one of its symbols is that of Palma. It had an important relevance throughout the history of Spain.

To the east, on the way to Merida and the capital of the kingdom, the gate of La Trinidad, defended by the Revellín de San Roque. To the south, on the way to Andalusia, Olivenza and Valverde, the pillar gate, in his time defended by the defunct Fort of Pardaleras.

THE PALMS GATE

The Palma door was built in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century, coinciding in time with the completion of the Bridge. It was part of the abaluartda fortification as it was integrated into the defensive fence, bound by the half-baluarte of tears and the curtain that led to the platform of Redondo and the New Door.

It gave way to the round road that descended to the river and surrounded the whole fortification. It was also the exit of the city to the north and Portugal, through the bridge and the Puerta de San Vicente.

	THE SAN VICENTE GATE
Originally the bridge had no direct exit, as it is today. In a way it also served to monitor and defend the entrance of the city from the north and Portugal. The central curtain of the Hornabeque was closed and the passage inside the square was made by the Puerta de San Vicente. Although modified, the access road is preserved partly through the plaza de armas, going up a ramp in a redo that passes under the new arches drawn to make the passage of the platform, to the crossing of Cuatro Caminos.

THE TRINIDAD GATE

To the east of the city, on the way to Merida and the capital of the kingdom, the Trinity Gate opens the left flank of the bastion, and was defended from the outside by a tong and by the Revellín de San Roque. From the 30s of the last century its left face was partly demolished to build a path of access to the population from the neighborhood of San Roque. Inside the bastion are preserved the remains of the medieval Gate of Seville or the Trinity.

OF THE PILAR GATE

The Puerta del Pilar or Jerez, was ordered to be built by the Count of Montijo and communicated to the south with Andalusia, and to the west with the roads of Valverde and Olivenza. It was defended by the defunct Fort of Pardaleras, located on what is now the Ibero-American Museum of Contemporary Art. In his time about two hundred meters, the Puerta de Jerez or Santa Marina was opened, in the so-called Cerca Vieja,

	THE GATE NEW OR OF THE RIVER
Only small traces of its plant remain from this door, the result of a reconstruction of the 60's of the last century. It seems to be contemporary of the Puerta de San Vicente, being razed like other elements of the fortification provided for by the "operations" of the city's widening. It had a double gate, vaulted covered passage and interior patio with guard body.

	THE MERIDA GATE
This door is located on a canvas of the curtain located between the semi-balua of San Antonio and the bastion of San Pedro. Its passage is currently cut off, as the construction of a quarry caused the door to hang in the void. There are still the remains of an earth window covering the front of this passage. When the abaluarta fortification was built, much of the Salvador ward was abandoned,

	PAJARITOS GATE
This door is popularly known because according to tradition (not shared by some historians) it hosted a painting painted by the Divino Morales commissioned by the City Cabildo. This direct passing gate was also known (like others in the city) as the river gate. has undergone numerous modifications over the time. In the seventeenth century Israel Silvestre left an engraving of the city, where in this place appeared in this place another door of appearance very different from the current. The one that came to this day is evidently a very later construction, possibly from the mid-18th century.

Photographies property of the author

Antonio García Candelas

Suggestions and impressions

FORTIFICATION BASTIONS

BADAJOZ

ENTER