Alcántara

Alcántara overlooks the Tagus near Portugal, where a monumental Roman bridge carries the road across the river. Built under Trajan, its high stone arches made the crossing a prize in later frontier wars. The town also gave its name to the military Order of Alcántara, which held extensive lands in Extremadura. In 1706 Portuguese troops captured the town and damaged the bridge; an arch was destroyed again in 1809 to impede the French advance during the Peninsular War.