Roman road from Braga to Porto or Road from Braga to Porto, 8 milestone markers, Chapel series

Category: Archaeology > Way

District: Braga > Vila Nova de Famalicão > Ponte > Antas

Location

This segment of the ancient Roman Road, which once established the vital connection between Bracara Augusta (modern-day Braga) and Portus Cale (today's Porto), is nestled in the municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão, in the district of Braga. More specifically, this remarkable vestige of the Roman past is located in the parish of Antas, in the locality of Ponte. Its position in this Minho landscape allows visitors to absorb the atmosphere of a scene that, although transformed, still retains the memory of ancient paths and the people who walked them.

The Path of Antiquity

The Roman Road from Braga to Porto constitutes an integral part of the monumental road infrastructure developed by the Roman Empire in the Iberian Peninsula. These roads, built with advanced engineering for their time, were crucial for the administration of the vast empire, facilitating the transport of goods, the movement of troops, and communication between various regions. Walking or observing this site is an opportunity to grasp the scale of the organization and persistence of Roman works, which have managed to withstand time and natural elements over centuries.

The Milestones of the Capela Series

One of the most unique and archaeologically significant aspects of this section of the Roman Road are the eight milestones that give it the designation "Capela series". Milestones were stone columns, generally cylindrical or quadrangular, erected along Roman roads to mark distances traveled, usually in Roman miles, and to indicate the origin or destination of the road. Not infrequently, these markers were engraved with Latin inscriptions that included the name of the emperor under whose reign the road was built or repaired, thus providing valuable chronological and historical data.

The concentrated presence of these eight milestones at this specific site in Antas and Ponte offers visitors a clear view of Roman ingenuity and how they structured their territory. Each of these milestones is a tangible testament to the Roman presence in Lusitanian lands, inviting contemplation of the legacy that profoundly shaped the region's landscape and culture.

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