Church of São Salvador / Late Antique Church (6th-7th Century) / Nucleus Museum Monastery - Mértola Museum Cláudio Torres

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Beja > Mértola > Mértola > Mosteiro

Location

Located in the historic village of Mértola, in the district of Beja, this site is situated in the area known as Mosteiro, within the urban fabric overlooking the Guadiana River. Its position offers the visitor a perspective of the surrounding Alentejo landscape, characterized by its vast horizons and the tranquility emanating from the river's course.

The Museum Nucleus is integrated into an ancient urban context, where the presence of remains from different eras is evident at every step, contributing to an immersive experience in the rich history of Mértola.

Vestiges of a Distant Past

This singular location reveals the foundations of the Late Antique Church of São Salvador, whose origins date back to the 6th-7th centuries, a fundamental transitional period between Late Antiquity and the Visigothic era in the Iberian Peninsula. The discovery and preservation of these archaeological remains offer a rare glimpse into the early Christian presence in the region, predating the Islamic occupation that would significantly shape the village of Mértola.

The research conducted at this site has uncovered the original structure of an early Christian basilica, serving as a valuable testament to the social and religious organization of that distant time. The elements found here are crucial for understanding the complex history of Mértola and its role in the Christian network of the southern peninsula.

The Enigma of Primitive Christian Architecture

Although the 6th-7th century church no longer stands, the museum space has been designed to allow visitors to understand its architectural plan and original dimensions. The exposed remains, such as foundational walls and fragments of construction elements, reveal the sobriety and functionality characteristic of religious buildings from the Late Antique period.

The meticulous preservation of these ruins and their careful presentation allow for a true journey through time, aiding in the understanding of what places of worship and the daily lives of the community that inhabited and practiced their faith here over fourteen hundred years ago would have been like.

The Cláudio Torres Museum Nucleus

The site functions as a museum nucleus dedicated to the archaeological finds from the excavations of the Late Antique Church of São Salvador. This exhibition space, which pays homage to the notable archaeologist Cláudio Torres, an indispensable figure in the research of Mértola's past, offers an in-depth interpretation of the remains discovered here.

Through a careful selection of artifacts, informative panels, and sometimes graphic elements or models, visitors are invited to delve into the history of the site. It is possible to observe ceramic fragments, decorative elements, and other objects that help reconstruct the daily life and religious practices of the community that once used this sacred space, providing an enriching and enlightening experience about the layers of civilization that shaped the village of Mértola.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt