"For three days, the streets and spaces of the Fortress will be occupied by merchants, artisans, musicians, knights and medieval characters, in a program that brings together tradition, culture and entertainment," describes the Valença City Council, in the district of Viana do Castelo, in an informative note released on social media.

The medieval market will feature crafts, arts and crafts, dances, music, theatre, gastronomy, fire shows and tournaments on foot and on horseback, "creating an immersive experience for all ages," says the municipality.

The council's invitation is "to live the history" and "to explore the Fortress, learn about the trades of other times, discover the traditions, savour the gastronomy and feel the atmosphere of a medieval Valença".

Regarding the recreation of Duarte de Armas' presence in Valença in 1509, the city hall recalls that the squire of the House of King Manuel I "travelled through the border fortresses by royal decree, recording their state and configuration in drawings and plans."

"More than five centuries later, his view of Valença serves as inspiration for a new journey through time," it adds.

The city council recalls that Valença "was one of the strongholds represented in the famous Book of Fortresses," a 16th-century manuscript authored by Duarte de Armas, commissioned by King Manuel I.

The Valença Fortress has been a national monument since 14 March 1928 and is being classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as part of the Fortified Border Fortresses project, which brings together the municipalities of Valença, Almeida, and Marvão.