It was in 1336 that King Afonso IV ordered the construction of a new wall that would reflect the great development of the village, in fact, the urban expansion of Porto, because of the commercial and maritime development of the city, required the enlargement of the primitive fence. In approximately two hundred years, the number of inhabitants residing within the new wall reached an estimated population of about 10,000 people. 

The city grew and extended in all directions, especially to the west and north, connecting the high points of Vitória and Batalha. Considerable parts of the new fence remain, and its layout in the urban fabric is easily recognizable. Next to the Arnaldo Gama Garden is the best-preserved section of the Fernandina wall, consisting of a crenellated section, with a roundabout path and protected by three quadrangular towers of the four that remain. The other tower is in another section of the wall presented on “Route 2 – From Infante to S. Bento”. 

The name of the wall comes from King Ferdinand, since the completion of the work took place during his reign, around 1370. Also known as “New Fence”, to distinguish it from the old Roman fence, it began to be built in 1336, during the reign of King Afonso IV. It had a height of 14 to 16 meters and a length of 2600 meters, covering an area of 44.5 hectares. The original five gates of the wall were defended by sturdy towers, and there were also seven wickets along its length, some of which were eventually converted into gates.