Archaeology

With its construction beginning in the second half of the 1st century AD, the Villa was profoundly remodelled from the end of the 4th century onwards, having resisted the Swabian and Visigothic domains in the 5th and 6th centuries, respectively. It is believed that in the middle of the 6th century it suffered a great fire, at which time it was left abandoned, having some of the ruins been occasionally recovered since then.

Originally established on a plateau above a small valley, next to the basin of the river Vizela, the Villa was integrated in an agricultural complex and was constituted by several habitational compartments, some of them with floors in broken ceramic mixed with mortar (opus signinum) and polychrome mosaics, with geometric motives. It was once structured around an inner courtyard (peristyle), and during the remodelling works that began in the 4th century larger baths were added.

It was discovered in 1992, during the excavation of the foundations for the construction of a house. The city council of Felgueiras acquired the land, in order to expand the excavation area. In December 1997, it was classified as a Public Interest Property, year in which the archaeological works began.

The remains, consisting of thousands of fragments, are on display in the Interpretation Centre that supports the ruins. It is very varied, with thousands of fragments of common ceramics, imported luxury ceramics, glassware, metal objects and bronze coins.