A
Spanish town in the province of
Caceres,
Estremadura, located on the
Tago river.
Originally built by the Romans with the name of Norba Caesarea, it was mostly famous for the bridge built by Traianus that is almost 200 m long and 50 m tall.
Destroyed and re-built by the Arabs with the name of al-Qantara al-Sayf (where "al-Qantara" means "the bridge"), it was reconquered during the XII and XIII century by Ferdinand II and Alphonse IX.
In 1156 a Military order of Alcantara was founded and then recognized by pope Alexander III; it was eventually forgotten after 1600.