 The monarch had ordered the completion of the walls of Alcantarilha in 1571, which were part of a project began in the reign of John III.King Sebastian visited on 28 January 1573 for a short visit, to find the project completed.João Cascão left behind a historical account, on the small "hamlet" of Alcantarilha, that included 150 neighbours and completely encircled by a wall of bulwarks.