Since early times, Almeida’s strategic position has served as a backdrop for the population, as it negotiates the vicissitudes of history. The terrain within the municipality, or Concejo, is defined by the slopes formed by the River Côa.
 

  Traces of human occupation are lost in the mists of pre-history. Nonetheless, the greatest vestiges of settlement reflect a circumstance of the utmost importance: the town’s strategic location. There is an inevitable need to address the historical roots of the name "Almeida", which has Muslim influences. For some historians, the word stems from the Arabic "al meda" or "talameyda", which means "table", in clear reference to its flat terrain. For others, the name comes from "atmeidan" which means "field" or "place where horses are galloped", a common activity amongst the Arab peoples.
  Almeida has long been marked by a history of territorial consolidation. It has always been a focal point for contesting land rights, yet it first became the scene of major historical events during the Christian Reconquest

of the Iberian Peninsula. The area was taken from the Muslims by King Dinis en 1296, including the lands on the right bank of the River Côa.
   The town’s boundaries were defined by the Treaty of Alcañices, which Don Manuel established "in foro" in 1510.
   The town of Almeida is surrounded by ramparts and pointed bastions that form a hexagonal star shape.

First built in 1641, Almeida’s fortifications were a major setting for the Restoration of national sovereignty, being considered the second most important in the kingdom and constituting a rare example in Portugal.
 The dynastic crisis of Don Fernando and the Restoration Wars passed, with Don Joao IV reinforcing its defences. During the Peninsular War, the town was besieged by Massena in 1810. Almeida resisted bravely, but the explosion of a powder magazine demoralised the town’s governor and Almeida finally surrendered.
  In 1811, Wellington laid siege and retook the fortress. During the liberal struggles, the Count of Bonfim rebelled and sought refuge in the town together with other rebels, amongst whom was José Estevao. The Bacon of Fonte Nova ended up seeking exile in Spain in 1844.