Meda

Mêda lies between the Upper Douro and the Beira plateau. Nearby Marialva crowns a granite outcrop above an old Roman road, its castle recalling the defense and settlement of the Côa frontier. Afonso Henriques granted privileges to encourage settlers there, and later kings enlarged and rebuilt its walls. King Denis established a three-day monthly fair in 1286. During the succession crisis of 1383–1385, Marialva supported the Master of Aviz; in 1515 Manuel I granted the town a new charter.