Culture

The archaeological site of Cerro da Vila has uncovered Roman ruins that help us discover various aspects of daily life of the former inhabitants of the Algarve in ancient times.

Dating back to the first and second century AD, when the Algarve was controlled by the Roman Empire, the remains include granaries, the villa of a wealthy merchant—where sections of well-preserved mosaic have been uncovered—a necropolis and the remains of a public baths complex as well as evidence of a sophisticated water supply that was served by a dammed river 1.25 miles (two km) away. It is also possible to observe vestiges of the reception room, the bedrooms, the kitchen, servants and slaves service areas that included a cryptoporticum.

Although the major finds at Cerro da Vila are Roman, it is believed that the spot was occupied until the 11th century; alongside the Roman artefacts in the archaeological museum are medieval and Visigoth pieces as well as treasures from the 500-year Moorish occupation of southern Portugal.

This living slice of history is a must see for anyone interested in how we got here.