Discover Alcañices

Alcañices lies in the Aliste comarca, near the border with Portugal. The Treaty of Alcañices was signed here on 12 September 1297 and established the border between Spain and Portugal. This places the town’s location on the border alongside a historic agreement that defined it. Its architectural history also offers several points of reference, from the fortifications built by the Templars to buildings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Border history and Templar buildings

Alcañices is a walled town fortified by the Templars. The present-day parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was also built by the Templars. The description of the fortified town thus complements the history of a specific religious building. For travelers interested in the Templar period, the church offers a distinct architectural point of reference alongside the treaty and border history.

The fortified complex includes four surviving semicircular towers. Locally, they are known as “del Reloj,” “de la villa,” “del trincherón,” and “de la tiacañona.” The details about their number, shape, and names describe the complex more specifically than a general reference to the fortifications. At the same time, the names preserve the different names used for each tower.

Further architectural history

The Palacio de los Marqueses de Alcañices was built in the 16th and 17th centuries and is now used as a senior residence. The Franciscan monastery of Alcañices was also built in the 16th and 17th centuries. Alongside the Templar period, these later phases of construction come into view; in the case of the palace, its present-day use is part of the building’s description. The construction dates and current function answer different questions about a place’s history.

Getting oriented and planning your trip

The Centro de documentación de Aliste, Tábara y Alba is located in the Convento de San Francisco. The Oficina de Turismo de Alcañices is located at Convento San Francisco No. 30 in Alcañices, 49500 Zamora. If you plan to request information or visit, check the current service and visitor arrangements beforehand.

The Camino Portugués de la Vía de la Plata passes through Alcañices. If you include this route in your trip, the town is also relevant in connection with it. The route provides a separate planning consideration alongside the border history and buildings.

Events and celebrations may also be relevant to your travel plans. The celebration in honor of the Virgen de la Salud is associated with July 1, 2, and 3. The celebrations in honor of San Roque are associated with the period from August 12 to 17. The celebration in honor of San Mateo is associated with the third weekend in September; the Mercado Medieval is associated with the third Sunday in September. If you plan your trip around any of these events, check the current dates and program in advance.

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Discover more destinations: San Cristóbal De Entreviñas, San Vitero, Pajares De La Lampreana, Otero de Bodas, Montamarta, Lubián, Fermoselle, Gamones.

For the broader travel overview: Zamora.