Nestled in the heart of Elvas, Portugal, stands the enigmatic Nossa Senhora da Graça Fort, or the Fort of Our Lady of Grace, a true marvel of military architecture.
Constructed between 1579 and 1592 under the reign of King Philip II of Spain, this captivating star-shaped fortress was brought to life by the brilliant military engineer Francisco de Arruda. Its strategic location near the Spanish border made it a bastion of defense critical to the protection of Elvas.
The fort’s ingenious star design, coupled with its formidable walls and bastions, was meticulously engineered to withstand the onslaught of artillery fire, showcasing the military tactics of its time. Throughout history, the fort has witnessed a series of fierce confrontations, playing a vital role in significant conflicts such as the War of the Spanish Succession and the Peninsular War.
As the tides of time shifted, the fort’s purpose evolved, and by the 20th century, it found itself transformed into a military prison. Eventually decommissioned, it has since been restored, standing proudly as a testament to Portugal's intricate tapestry of history—a silent guardian of stories untold.
#NossaSenhoradaGraça #ElvasFortress #MilitaryArchitecture #PortugueseHistory #WarOfSuccession #HistoricalLandmark
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UK gives royal welcome to Zelenskyy after White House meltdown
King Charles will hold an official audience at Sandringham with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday as the UK and EU demonstrate their “unwavering” support after his humiliation at the hands of Donald Trump and JD Vance in the White House.
Keir Starmer will also host European heads of government and the leaders of Canada and Turkey at a special defence summit aimed at presenting a united front on the Ukraine crisis.
On arrival in Downing Street for a meeting with Starmer on Saturday night, just 24 hours after Trump and his vice-president Vance subjected him to a 10-minute tirade in the Oval Office, Zelenskyy said he was “very happy” that the king had agreed to the meeting.
The offer of a royal audience was seen at Westminster as a deliberate move to give the Ukrainian president equal treatment to Trump, who was presented during his meeting at the White House on Wednesday by Starmer with an invitation to a second state visit to the UK, including a meeting with King Charles.
#Zelenskyy #UK #News
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