Quintela Tower

The Quintela Tower, locally known as Torre de Quintela, stands in the rural hamlet of the same name in the Douro region in Portugal.

Exactly when work on the Quintela Tower began is unknown, but it was already under construction in 1258 during the reign of Afonso III of Portugal. It was built on the order of Alda Vasques, a local lord, who used it as his residence. Later, after a short period in the hands of the Knights Templar, it seems to have passed to the Counts of Vimioso.

The Quintela Tower, situated in the foothills of the Serra do Marão mountain range, guarded an important regional path between Vila Real and Amarante, near the spot where that route forded the Marinheira Stream.

The tower has a square plan, rises to a height of approximately 21 meters, and is equipped with merlons, 4 narrow slit windows, and 8 crenelated balconies. Its elevated entrance door would originally have been reached via a removable wooden staircase.

When I visited, the Quintela Tower was only visible from the outside. It didn't look like it was ever open to the public. A beautiful tower; it's a pity I couldn't get inside.

Gallery