Category: Archaeology > Archaeological Site
District: Faro > Lagos > Praia da Luz > Luz
The Roman ruins of Praia da Luz are located in the Algarve village of Luz, in the municipality of Lagos, situated within an already urbanized area. This archaeological site is very close to the coast, with the beach just a few steps away, and in the immediate vicinity of the seafront avenue. Its position, next to the local church, makes it easy to recognize for those exploring the village.
The proximity to the sea underscores the strategic and economic importance this location held in antiquity, taking advantage of maritime resources. The current surroundings allow visitors to understand how the past intertwines with the present in Luz's coastal landscape.
The Roman Archaeological Station of Praia da Luz reveals the vestiges of an ancient Roman occupation, classified as a Property of Public Interest. The site preserves the ruins of a bathhouse, which functioned as public baths, and an industrial complex dedicated to fish salting. These elements offer a perspective on the daily life and economic activities that flourished in this Algarve region around two thousand years ago.
The site was occupied in several phases, spanning the 1st to 4th centuries AD, a period when the region was under Roman rule. Excavations revealed the size of the settlement at the time, which extended along a significant coastline, adapting to the needs and resources of its era.
Roman baths constituted a central point in community life, offering spaces for bathing, hygiene, and socializing. At this site, parts of the structures of a bath complex built between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD can still be observed. The complex included various rooms, such as the frigidarium (cold water pool) and the tepidarium (warm water pool), heated through an ingenious system of furnaces and hot air chambers, known as the hypocaust.
For water supply, the Romans developed a complex system of pipelines, which connected the baths to both the ocean and a nearby stream. Some pavements were adorned with mosaics, fragments of which have been found, testifying to the care for aesthetics and comfort in daily Roman life.
To the east and northeast of the bathhouse, there was an industrial complex of great importance to the local economy: the cetariae, tanks used for preparing fish products, such as garum sauce, highly prized by the Romans. Although much of these structures is now covered by modern residential buildings, archaeological investigations have confirmed their presence and scale.
The construction of these cetariae occurred in distinct phases, demonstrating the evolution and expansion of fishing activity and the salting industry over time. The transport of products resulting from these factories was likely done by sea, highlighting the intrinsic connection of the Roman settlement to the sea.
Throughout the various archaeological campaigns, multiple objects have been discovered that enrich the understanding of Roman life in Praia da Luz. Among the finds are fragments of amphorae, common-use ceramics, glass utensils, and construction materials, which help to reconstruct daily life and trade at the time.
Coins and metal objects, such as fishhooks, were also found, underscoring the relevance of fishing and maritime trade for this community. The preservation and enhancement of these vestiges are a continuous effort to make the history of the site accessible to all, allowing a journey back in time to the Roman presence in the Algarve.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.086102695833, -8.7288656041667
Coordinates DMS: 37°05'10.0"N 08°43'43.9"W
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