Located in the municipality of Alandroal in Portugal, Juromenha Fortress is a monument of great historical value that has undergone numerous transformations over the centuries. Dating back to Roman times, it played a crucial military role during the Islamic period and was conquered by Portugal's first king in the 12th century.
Part of the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve—a protected area that preserves the quality of the night sky—the fortress underwent a restoration in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Lisbon. The aim was to ensure the monument's visibility from afar without compromising the surrounding environment or the visibility of the starry sky.
Lighting the fortress posed a fascinating challenge, proving that, when responsibly and carefully designed, lighting can help preserve historical heritage, respect the natural context, and at the same time offer visitors a unique experience by enhancing the beauty of the site without harming night sky quality.
The architecture of Juromenha Fortress has seen several interventions, especially after the devastating 1755 earthquake. Today, it stands majestically on the right bank of the Guadiana River, on the natural border between Portugal and Spain, in a strategic position that allows long-distance views of the surrounding landscapes.
From the start, the design team specified the use of warm lighting (2700K for exterior walls and 3000K for interiors and the church), designed to respect light pollution limits while ensuring visitor safety. Light intensity was kept to a minimum, with precise beam distribution thanks to Luce&Light’s Ginko 2.0 luminaires, used with various optics including elliptical lenses.
To ensure maximum uniformity along the external walls, horizontal elliptical optics were used, while vertical beams were employed to highlight towers and key corners. Honeycomb louvres were also integrated into the fixtures to reduce glare. These solutions achieved efficient, uniform lighting with minimal light spill.
Lighting tests conducted during the National Day of Castles confirmed the choice of technology in strict compliance with Dark Sky reserve standards. The use of finishes like corten steel for poles and fixtures, along with precise light flow control, ensured a perfect balance between enhancing historical heritage and respecting the natural environment.
Pedro Telhado, lighting designer at Light2Life:
“Light2Life has worked with the DarkSky reserve team for many years. For Juromenha Fortress, the goal was to illuminate the building so it would stand out for locals, nearby towns, and visitors—while respecting the highly sensitive DarkSky Alqueva environment. The color temperature was set at 2700K from the beginning, and illuminance levels were fine-tuned after numerous detailed light tests. The final solution included 4-meter square-section corten steel poles with multiple Ginko 2.0 units installed on each side. Horizontal elliptical optics ensured maximum uniformity along all external walls, while vertical optics were used to highlight key angles and towers.”
Luce&Light
Luce&Light’s mission is to “bring projects to light” using sophisticated LED systems: indoor, outdoor, and submerged luminaires that recreate natural architectural lighting, engineered for high performance and long-term reliability. The company is a true Made in Italy example, where innovation and design merge with ongoing research into material quality and optical efficiency. Though highly technical, its products stand out for their refined aesthetics, making them suitable for any environment. With cutting-edge design, a fully in-house production cycle, and solid industry experience, Luce&Light creates true poetry in light.
Credits:
Lighting design: Pedro Telhado, Light2Life
Lighting: Luce&Light www.lucelight.it
