Squabbles with Spain

Went to Spain today! Virtual waves to Hamp5on and Barrioboy...

Exploring the region around Mourão, on the Alqueva Lake, and with some time left, decided to cross over into Spain, and visit Olivença, to give it its Portuguese name. It is disputed territory, though Spain did sign the Treaty of Vienna in 1815, saying it would hand the city back to Portugal, and never has done so...

Last photo of the day - the Ajuda Bridge over the Guadiana River, which was built in 1510, and blown up by the Spaniards in 1709, so that the Portuguese couldn't get from Elvas to Olivença, without going into Spain. The new bridge, which we crossed over on, was opened in 2000, built entirely by Portugal, so that Spain couldn't lay any claim to the Guadiana being the border between the two countries.

The dispute is also the reason the bridge has never been reconstructed, as neither country will allow the other to do it - but if you want to see what it would look like, here is a virtual reconstruction.