Roman ruins of Carvalheiras

Category: Archaeology > City

District: Braga > Braga > Braga > Forte

Location

The Roman Ruins of Carvalheiras are located in the parish of Braga (Maximinos, Sé e Cividade), in the city and municipality of Braga, in Portugal.

History

The ruins are vestiges of a residential neighborhood of ancient "Bracara Augusta", a Roman city. It is believed that they were built in the 1st century, undergoing transformations in the 3rd century and being inhabited until the 5th century.

Architecture

The house in the ruins is considered a representative example of the private urban architecture of "Bracara Augusta". It occupied an entire city block, with an area of 1,156 square meters. The house was divided into two platforms, each with its own entrance, and featured characteristics such as an atrium with a tank to collect rainwater, reception and dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchen, and latrine.

Additional Features

Around the house, there were shops accessible from porticos on the south and west facades, which were used as pedestrian walkways. The flooring and wall coverings probably included mosaics and mural paintings, although they have been lost over time due to soil acidity.

Classification and Musealization

The ruins were classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1990. In 2018, a project for the enhancement and musealization of the ruins was initiated by the Braga City Council and the University of Minho. The project aims to make the site visitable to the public, including the design of visitor circuits, the conservation of the vestiges, the creation of an interpretation center, and the integration of an urban park in the vicinity of the ruins.

Ongoing Project

The project for the musealization and visitation of the ruins was carried out by Spanish specialists in archaeology and musealization of Roman vestiges. The completion of the work is scheduled for 18 months, representing an investment of 3.3 million euros.