Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Braga > Amares > Paranhos > Além
The location of the Roman Geira, specifically at Milestone XIV, is situated in the municipality of Amares, in the locality of Paranhos, more precisely in the area known as Além. This section of the ancient Roman road is immersed in an environment that still today preserves traces of the rural and natural landscape of the Minho region.
Its location allows for direct connection with the terrain that once served as a road corridor for the Roman Empire, often framed by lush vegetation and the characteristic relief of the Braga district. It is a point integrated into an environment that invites the observation of history in communion with nature, offering a perspective on how the great infrastructures of antiquity integrated into the territory.
The Roman Geira, also known as the Via Nova, was one of the most important Roman roads in the Iberian Peninsula. It connected the provincial capitals of Bracara Augusta (present-day Braga) to Asturica Augusta (present-day Astorga, in Spain), traversing vast landscapes.
Built in the 1st century AD, under the reign of Vespasian and Domitian, this road's main objective was to facilitate communication and territorial control, as well as the outflow of resources, especially mining, between the northwest of the Peninsula and the center of the Empire. This route represented a remarkable feat of engineering and organization, crossing mountains, valleys, and rivers, and enabling a mobility that transformed the economy and society of the time. Its existence was vital for Romanization and for the subsequent configuration of medieval and modern road networks in the region.
Milestone XIV of the Roman Geira constitutes a specific marker and a physical testament to this grandiose work. Milestones were cylindrical stone columns, strategically placed along Roman roads to indicate the distance traveled from a point of origin, in this case, Bracara Augusta.
The existence of this specific milestone highlights the precision and systematic approach with which the Romans organized their road network. In this location, it is possible to observe vestiges of the Roman road itself, elements that have resisted the passage of time and tell the story of the passage of legions, merchants, and settlers. The preservation of these elements offers a unique window into the past, allowing for a deeper understanding of Roman life and engineering in Lusitania.
The remains of the Roman Geira at Milestone XIV are a remarkable example of Roman civil engineering. The construction techniques used, such as the robust foundation with layers of stone, sand, and gravel, and the paving with regular flagstones, demonstrate the skill of Roman builders in creating durable infrastructure.
The ability to adapt construction to the rugged terrain, while maintaining the linearity and functionality of the road, is particularly visible in sections like this. Observing the remaining elements allows for an understanding of the project's scale and the complexity of its execution, which included bridges, retaining walls, and cuts into the terrain. This site thus functions as a space where the robustness and intelligence of Roman architecture can be truly appreciated and studied in its original context.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.6800722,-8.3259921
Coordinates DMS: 41°40'48.3"N 08°19'33.6"W
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