Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Faro > Faro > Estoi > Coiro da Burra
The Milreu Roman Villa Museum Centre is serenely nestled in the rural Algarve landscape, on the outskirts of the village of Estoi, in the municipality of Faro. Its location, slightly away from the coastal hustle and bustle, offers an environment of quietude and introspection, conducive to discovering an important vestige of the region's Roman past. Surrounded by a natural setting, the site invites immersion in an atmosphere of tranquility and historical legacy.
This archaeological site presents the remarkable remains of a Roman villa, showcasing the richness and complexity of daily life in the south of Lusitania between the 1st and 5th centuries AD. Through its foundations and remaining structures, visitors can glimpse the organisation of a wealthy agricultural estate, which was dedicated to production and boasted a high level of comfort and art. Milreu is, thus, an eloquent testament to the Roman presence and its cultural impact in the Algarve region.
At the heart of this complex, the ruins of a sumptuous residence are unveiled, complemented by production annexes and, notably, a private bath complex, which attests to the high status of its former owners. One of the most impressive aspects of the visit are the glass and stone mosaics, many of which remain surprisingly well preserved. Their intricate geometric patterns and, in particular, the vibrant representations of fish and other marine creatures, offer a fascinating glimpse into the aesthetics and the villa's connection to the surrounding aquatic environment, being one of its most distinctive features.
Beyond the residential and thermal areas, Milreu stands out for the presence of the remains of a monumental temple. The existence of a cult structure of this magnitude in a private villa is noteworthy, suggesting that the property might have played a significant public or religious role in the area. This edifice underwent remarkable transformations over time, possibly being reoriented and adapted to function as a place of Christian worship in the Late Roman or Visigothic periods, illustrating the continuity and the superimposition of different eras and beliefs in the same space.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.0948263,-7.9045658
Coordinates DMS: 37°05'41.4"N 07°54'16.4"W
Weather Estoi
On-duty Pharmacy Estoi
