Portal del Carrau / de La Calle Llana

La calle Llana, located in the northern part of Beceite, is famous for being the flattest street in the town, and it is here that this imposing portal stands. The Portal del Carrau, or de la Calle Llana, is a fascinating structure built with arches of large, highly rebajados dovelas on its outer side and, to a lesser extent, on the interior. It is framed within a robust wall of rubble masonry that bears witness to its antiquity and purpose.

The construction of the portal combines ashlar masonry in its lower section with rubble masonry in the upper part. A crucial detail is the aspilleras present in the wall, elements that clearly suggest its defensive function in times past. This portal and la calle Llana are silent witnesses to the rich history and architectural evolution of Beceite, preserving the essence of its past across the centuries.

The Portal del Carrau is an excellent example of the defensive architecture that flourished in the Matarraña during the Middle Ages. These portals not only marked the boundaries of the towns, but were also strategic points of defence, controlling movement and protecting the population from raids. Their robust construction in ashlar masonry and rubble masonry, together with elements such as the aspilleras, are testimony to an era when security was paramount.

The 'calle Llana' of Beceite, despite its name suggesting ease, was a vital artery. Portals such as the Carrau were far more than simple arches; they were the gateway to the social, economic and defensive life of the town. They represented the boundary between the protected interior and the outside world, and their design reflected the need for resistance and control, keeping alive the legacy of Beceite as a fortified medieval town.