Aldeias Históricas de Portugal

Villages

False Gate

Sortelha

Sortelha

This gate acquired this popular name for being a replicate of the entrance to the walled village. Being a False Gate, it should lead to a dead end. However, it does not. It has a slightly pointed arch, bevelled on the outside, with a vault, no imposts, but with a bevelled frame. Its existence, so close to the New Gate, can only be explained as a way of dividing invading soldiers to weaken them. But its original functionality is unclear, having remained closed at least since the Restoration War (1640-1668).