Category: Archaeology > Way
District: Viana do Castelo > Ponte de Lima > Arcozelo
In Arcozelo, in the heart of the municipality of Ponte de Lima and situated in the picturesque district of Viana do Castelo, a valuable fragment of Roman history emerges, which once connected important urban centers. The route of the ancient Roman road winds through a predominantly rural and serene landscape of the Minho, offering an authentic glimpse into the environment that hosted these millennial structures.
The location of these milestones allows visitors to immerse themselves in an atmosphere of tranquility, with the Minho landscape serving as a backdrop for the discovery of a significant archaeological legacy, where nature and history intertwine harmoniously.
The "Roman road from Braga to Tui" constituted one of the most relevant communication and trade arteries of the Roman Empire in the Iberian Peninsula, connecting the prosperous city of Bracara Augusta (Braga) to Tude (Tui). This road was fundamental for the circulation of goods, armies, and information, shaping the geography and economy of the region for centuries. It represents a remarkable testimony to Roman engineering, designed for durability and efficiency, crossing diverse terrains and connecting communities.
Its route, still visible in several sections, is an invitation to imagine the journeys of the Romans, the sounds of carriages, and the interactions that occurred along this vital path. It is a direct link to a distant past, fundamental for understanding the territorial organization and Roman presence in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
The 14 milestones that make up the designated "chapel series" are the most notable elements of this section of the Roman road. Each milestone was a cylindrical stone column, sometimes with inscriptions indicating the distance to the nearest city, the reigning emperor, or the person responsible for its construction or restoration. These "mile markers" functioned as the road signs of Antiquity, essential for travel planning and route management.
The preservation of this series of milestones in Arcozelo is of high archaeological and historical value, allowing researchers and visitors an in-depth study of the Roman road network. They constitute tangible vestiges of an era of great expansion and organization, and their observation allows for an intimate connection with the scale and ambition of Roman imperial engineering.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.79258,-8.592023
Coordinates DMS: 41°47'33.3"N 08°35'31.3"W
Weather Arcozelo
On-duty Pharmacy Arcozelo
