Involved in various moments of Portuguese History, one of the main strongholds of the Alentejo is the Estremoz Castle, built in the 12th century. It successively changed hands between Christians and Muslims until the reign of King Sancho II. Later, by order of King Dinis, the Royal Palace was also built next to the castle. The Estremoz Castle is one of the places said to have hosted the well-known Miracle of the Roses, in which Queen Saint Isabel, who died here in 1336, turned bread into roses. Also in this Alentejo town, King Manuel gave command of his fleet to Vasco da Gama in 1497, starting the discovery of the sea route to India. At the beginning of the 20th century, the castle, the town walls – the so-called Tower of Couraças – and the Chapel of the Holy Queen were classified as a National Monument.