Category: Archaeology > Hillfort
District: Viseu > São Pedro do Sul > Figueirosa > Bairro Belo Horizonte
Located in the municipality of São Pedro do Sul, in the district of Viseu, the Castro de Nossa Senhora da Guia stands in an elevated position, in the locality of Figueirosa, more precisely in the Belo Horizonte Neighborhood. Its privileged location offers a serene natural setting, characteristic of the region's landscape. From the site, visitors can enjoy a vast panoramic view of the surroundings, revealing the rural beauty and tranquility that mark this area of central Portugal.
The Castro de Nossa Senhora da Guia is a testament to ancient human presence in this landscape. It dates back to periods prior to the Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula, serving as a fortified settlement for the communities that established themselves here. The choice of this location was not accidental; its elevation and visibility ensured a defensive and strategic position, allowing control of the surrounding territory and its resources. This archaeological site offers a window into the way of life, social organization, and practices of the populations that inhabited the region millennia ago.
When exploring the Castro de Nossa Senhora da Guia, visitors will find traces that allude to the complexity of this ancient settlement. Although time and the elements have altered its original appearance, it is possible to imagine the defensive structure that once characterized it, with its walls and moats. Through investigations, archaeologists have unveiled details about the residential constructions and daily artifacts that were part of the lives of its inhabitants, contributing to our knowledge of the Iron Age in Portuguese territory.
Beyond its historical and archaeological value, the Castro de Nossa Senhora da Guia stands out for its surrounding landscape and the presence that gives it its name: the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia. This superimposition of a Christian place of worship on an ancient fortified settlement demonstrates the continuity of occupation and the symbolic importance that this elevated point has maintained throughout the centuries. The site not only invites reflection on the distant past, but also provides a refuge of peace, where the view reaches the horizon, connecting ancient history with more recent devotion.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.76371627,-8.09735882
Coordinates DMS: 40°45'49.4"N 08°05'50.5"W
Weather Figueirosa
On-duty Pharmacy Figueirosa
