Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Vila Real > Boticas > Nogueira > Ardãos e Bobadela
The Terva Valley Archaeological Park (PAVT) spans a vast geographical area of approximately 60 km² in the municipality of Boticas, northern Portugal. Its extent covers the Ardãos and Bobadela area, located near the village of Nogueira. The surrounding landscape is characterized by a mosaic of dense forests, traditional agricultural fields, and rocky formations on the elevations, revealing a harmonious interaction between the natural environment and human presence throughout the centuries.
This park is a testament to the intense and diverse human occupation of the Terva Valley over millennia. Here, it is possible to find traces of fortified settlements from the Iron Age, as well as numerous Roman and medieval sites. The Roman presence is particularly notable, evidenced by the extensive gold exploitations that shaped the landscape, such as the open-pit mines of Limarinho and other complexes, namely Brejo and Poço das Freitas. These locations reveal the complexity and scale of ancient mining operations in the region.
For a deeper understanding of the PAVT's heritage, the Interpretation Centre, located in the village of Bobadela, serves as a starting point. The space houses a permanent exhibition that unveils the particularities and history of the territory. In the Territory Room, visitors have access to a detailed characterization of natural and cultural values through models, video projections, archaeological artifacts, and touch monitors. One of the highlights is the Mine Room, which recreates the environment of an ancient Roman gallery, providing an immersive experience that illustrates the history of mining in the region and worldwide.
Beyond its archaeological value, the Terva Valley stands out for its high biodiversity and the cultural landscape that resulted from a lasting and balanced relationship between communities and the ecosystem. The preservation of the essential characteristics of this valley, with its forests, agricultural floodplains, and rocky ridges, reflects how populations have managed to coexist with nature, preserving an environment of great ecological and scenic interest. The Terva River valley thus offers a setting where history and nature intertwine in a unique way.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.73103409832425, -7.61840863161935
Coordinates DMS: 41°43'51.7"N 07°37'6.3"W
On-duty Pharmacy Nogueira
