Braga to Porto Road - 8 milestones (Chapel series)

Category: Archaeology > Way

District: Porto > Trofa > Bougado > Santiago

Location

Located in the Porto district, within the municipality of Trofa, more precisely in the locality of Bougado, Santiago area, this ancient Roman Road from Braga to Porto invites the discovery of a historical legacy. The Capela series of milestones are scattered along a section that, despite landscape transformations, still allows a glimpse of the grandeur of Roman engineering.

The surrounding environment is characterized by a mix of rural and urbanized areas, where these remains are integrated, sometimes discreetly, at other times as highlights in a route that once connected two of the most important centers of the Iberian Northwest. Their observation provides a direct connection with the past, integrated into the daily life of the region.

A Roman Legacy in the Heart of Minho

The Roman Road from Braga to Porto, an integral part of the vast road network of the Roman Empire, represented a vital artery for the development and control of the province of Lusitania. Connecting ancient Bracara Augusta (Braga) to Portus Cale (Porto), this path was fundamental for the transport of goods, the movement of troops, and communication between cities. Its construction demonstrates the advanced engineering knowledge of the Romans, who designed durable and efficient roads.

Over the centuries, this road witnessed the passage of countless figures, serving as a silent witness to the region's history. Although many of its original sections have disappeared or been absorbed by the modern landscape, the permanence of elements like the milestones still allows us today to mentally retrace the steps of ancient travelers.

The Milestones: Guardians of the Path

Milestones are cylindrical stone columns that were placed alongside Roman roads to indicate distances to be covered. They served as essential guides for travelers, merchants, and armies, usually marking the Roman mile (about 1480 meters) from a reference point, such as the provincial capital of Bracara Augusta.

The eight milestones that make up the "Capela series" are particularly relevant elements of this section of the Roman Road from Braga to Porto. Each of these stone monuments holds invaluable historical worth, possibly containing inscriptions with information about the reigning emperor, the name of the road's builder or restorer, and the distance covered. Their presence in the landscape of Bougado, Santiago, offers a unique opportunity to observe these archaeological pieces up close.

Traces of a Distant Era

Visiting the area where the milestones of the Roman Road from Braga to Porto are located in Trofa is an immersive experience in the ancient history of Portugal. These stone pillars are more than mere distance markers; they are true ambassadors of a civilization that profoundly shaped the territory and culture of the Iberian Peninsula.

Contemplating these remains allows visitors to reflect on the ambition and organizational capacity of the Roman Empire, as well as on the resilience of these structures that have endured for almost two millennia. They constitute an invitation to imagination, transporting those who observe them to an era when the pace of life was dictated by the roads and the markers that guided travelers through the Minho landscape.

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