Castle of Cola

Castle of Cola is an Iron Age residence and Islamic redoubt in the Portuguese Alentejo, classified as a National Monument [1]. The castro is part of a larger archaeological park of Castro da Cola, that includes various Megalithic and Chalcolithic monuments, including necropolises of the Bronze and Iron Ages [1]. During the period of Islamic influence within the Iberian peninsula, the castro was reinforced to serve as an outpost [1]. The fortification controlled one of the principal routes of passage into the Algarve [1]. The plan of the castle consists of an irregular 125 metres-long polygon, with 60 metres width, consisting of 2.4 metres thick walls, although in some areas this width was between 5–6 metres [1]. These walls were reinforced by unequal-sized rectangular blocks [1].