Interpretive Center of the Cidadelhe Hill Fort

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Vila Real > Mesão Frio > Cidadelhe > Malhada

Location

The Cidadelhe Hillfort Interpretive Centre is nestled in the tranquility of the locality of Cidadelhe, integrated into the municipality of Mesão Frio. Its location, in the Malhada area, places it in a rural and serene environment, typical of the region. This setting offers a view of the surrounding landscape, preparing the visitor for immersion in the ancient history that the site preserves. Its proximity to the archaeological site of Cidadelhe Hillfort gives it a central role in understanding the past.

A Journey to the Iron Age

This interpretive centre serves as a gateway to understanding life in the Iron Age, focusing on the communities that inhabited the Cidadelhe Hillfort. Through a careful exhibition, aspects of the daily life of its inhabitants are revealed, from their social and economic practices to elements of their material culture. The space was designed to contextualize the importance of the hillfort, showing how archaeological research allows us to reconstruct the history of a people who lived in this territory thousands of years ago.

The Archaeological Legacy

At the Interpretive Centre, it is possible to explore the archaeological legacy discovered at the Cidadelhe Hillfort. The exhibition path guides the visitor through the evolution of this fortified settlement, highlighting the organization of its residential and defensive structures. One learns about the vestiges found, such as ceramics, tools, and other objects that bear witness to life back then. The exhibition seeks to bring these discoveries to life, making visible how communities organized themselves and interacted with their environment.

Context and Significance of the Hillfort

The Cidadelhe Hillfort Interpretive Centre delves into the significance of this type of settlement in the pre-Roman landscape. It explores why these locations were chosen (often for their strategic and defensive position) and how communities established themselves and prospered. It helps understand the hillfort's role in the region's network of settlements and its importance as a social, political, and economic centre of the era. It is an invitation to reflect on the resilience and ingenuity of the ancient populations who shaped this territory.

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