Archaeological site of Rua de D. Hugo

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Centro Histórico

Location

The Archaeological Site of Rua de D. Hugo is located in the heart of Porto's Historic Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is situated on Penaventosa hill, an area of great historical significance, near the Sé Cathedral. Being at this point allows one to feel the antiquity of the place and its connection to the city's original nucleus.

A Window in Time

This space invites a journey through time. It functions as a true window that allows one to observe the city hidden beneath our feet and understand the continuous movement of construction and reconstruction over thousands of years. It is a meeting point between the different periods of Porto's history, revealing unique narratives about life in this specific location.

Layers of History

Archaeological work at this site has revealed a remarkable sequence of human occupation. At approximately three meters deep, about twenty distinct archaeological layers have been identified. These layers preserve vestiges from the Iron Age, around the 5th-4th centuries BC, to the present day, documenting over 2500 years of continuous history.

Vestiges of Ancient Cities

Excavations have brought to light important testimonies regarding the origins and urban evolution of Porto. Vestiges of the proto-historic hillfort of Penaventosa, the original settlement that gave rise to the city, were found. There are also signs of Roman occupation (ancient Cale), and of the Suevic-Visigothic and High Medieval periods, when Portucale became an episcopal see.

A distinctive element is a segment of Porto's Romanesque wall which, although integrated into later constructions, still survives and can be observed. Remains of ancient dwellings, such as a possible circular house and foundations of medieval buildings, and the mark of a medieval alleyway that ran through this space complete the picture of the different eras and transformations of the place.

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