a fortified frontier city of Portugal, province of Alentejo, 12 miles west of Badajos. Pop. 16,460. It is picturesquely situated on a hill between two others on which stand the fortresses of Santa Lucia and La Lippe. The town is generally ill-built and dirty, while the number of Moorish buildings give it an antique and venerable appearance. The chief edifices are the cathedral, arsenal, bomb-proof barracks for 6000 or 7000 men, theatre, prison, public hospital, college, seminary, and a singularly formed tower. The town is supplied with water by means of a large Moorish aqueduct. Manufactures—hardware and jewellery; but many of the inhabitants depend on the contraband trade carried on with Spain. This was a place of great importance during the Peninsular war. It was taken by Marshal Junot in March 1808, and held by the French till the August following, when it was given up in terms of the convention at Cintra.