Castro de Alvarelhos

Category: Archaeology > Hillfort

District: Porto > Vila do Conde > Covilhã

Location

The Castro de Alvarelhos rises in the parish of Alvarelhos, municipality of Trofa, with its protected area extending to the parish of Guilhabreu, in the municipality of Vila do Conde, and also covering a portion of S. Pedro de Avioso, in Maia. Situated on an elevation of the Serra de Santa Eufémia, on the right bank of the Ribeiro da Aldeia, this place, although at a modest altitude of 218 meters, occupied a strategic geographical position.

Its location allowed control over an important terrestrial corridor, which connected the mouth of the Douro River to the Ave and Cávado river basins. This relevance was maintained throughout the centuries, standing out in the Roman era due to the passage of the road connecting Cale (Porto) to Bracara Augusta (Braga).

A Millennial Past

The Castro de Alvarelhos is a testament to human presence dating back to ancient times. Archaeological evidence indicates continuous occupation from the late Bronze Age, through the Iron Age, a period when the settlement was inhabited by communities of shepherds and farmers.

The period of greatest splendor for the castro occurred during the Roman occupation, when its strategic importance increased, making it a vital point in the region's communication and trade network. Life in the castro continued until the Middle Ages, leaving marks of distinct superimposed occupation phases.

Remains and Ancient Architecture

This imposing archaeological site, one of the largest in the Northwest Iberian Peninsula, reveals a complex structure of remains. The settlement was defended by at least three defensive walls, which encircled an area of about eight hectares. Inside, the foundations of circular dwelling structures, characteristic of the Castro culture, are visible, as well as evidence of Roman constructions superimposed on these.

Excavations brought to light indications of houses showing the adaptation of original structures to Roman molds, as well as a possible thermal building and a public space believed to have been a kind of forum, marked by the presence of column bases. The medieval occupation of the site is attested by the ruins of a chapel, which may have been the first church of Alvarelhos, and a burial from the same period.

Cultural and Heritage Value

Classified as a National Monument since 1910, the Castro de Alvarelhos is a site of remarkable archaeological and historical value. Findings at the site, including silver coins from the 1st and 2nd centuries, high-quality imported pieces, and even ponderals (weights for coins), suggest that the castro played a significant role not only as a strategic center but also as a possible commercial outpost or place of important exchanges.

Exploring the Castro de Alvarelhos is, therefore, an opportunity to delve into history and understand the complexity of the societies that inhabited this region over millennia, observing the layers of occupation that manifest in its architectural structures.

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