Villa Romana do Montinho das Laranjeiras

Villa - Roman Period e Medieval Islamic Period (1219)
The archaeological site Montinho das Laranjeiras is located on a low-level platform, on the right bank of the Rio Guadiana, about 10 km south of Alcoutim. The archaeological works allowed the identification of structures and materials framed within three distinct occupation stages, chronologically set between the 1st century BC (Roman period) and the 12th and 13th century AD (Medieval Islamic Period) The building from the Roman period has six compartments destined to the processing and storage of agricultural products, revealing itself as the pars fructuaria of a rural roman villa. A Christian church with byzantine influence was built between the late 6th century / beginning of the 7th century AD (Late Antiquity/ Visigothic Period), that seems to superimpose itself upon an older building. During the 7th century AD, the church might have been target of several changes in its architecture and usable space, having been documented the opening of several tombs, both inside and outside of the building. From the Islamic Medieval Period we can find noticeable traces of domestic dwellings of rectangular shape, with different compartments set around a central courtyard, occupied until the 12th century AD (Almohad period) and later abandoned during the Christian (Re)conquest. The Visigothic church may have been transformed into a small mosque, similar to what is found in other southern sites in the Iberian Peninsula.

Overview

The archaeological site is fenced, but has conditions of visit. On the archaeological site exists explanatory panels and digital explanatory leaflet can be downloaded. For bookings contact Alcoutim City Council. Archaeological Site on the "Rota da Dieta Mediterrânica" (Mediterranean Diet Tour"

Visit conditions

By booking

Timetables

Contacts

Documents

    How to get there? Best practices

    Best practices

    Good practices when visiting archaeological sites

    To visit an archaeological site is to connect with our origins, to understand our path and evolution as a species integrated in the environment, and to respect and safeguard our heritage so that future generations can also visit and enjoy it.

    Walking the paths and enjoying the structures and archaeological pieces that survived over time, fosters the understanding of what is different, but also of what is common among different populations: basically, what identifies us as Homo Sapiens.

    More than just vestiges and ruins of the past, archaeological sites showcase our capacity for creative thought, adaptation, interconnection, comprehension and resilience. Without these traits we would not have been successful as cultural beings participating in an ongoing evolutionary process. These sites also allow to consider choices made in the past thus contributing for decisions in the present to be made with greater awareness and knowledge.

    Archaeological sites are unique and irreplaceable. These sites are fragile resources vulnerable to changes driven by human development. The information they keep, if destroyed, can never be recovered again.

    As such, the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC) invites all visitors to enjoy the beauty and authenticity of these sites, while helping to preserve them for future generations by adopting the following set of good practices:

    • Respect all signs; 
    • Do not try to access fenced areas; 
    • Do not climb, sit or walk on archaeological structures and remains; 
    • Respect areas where archaeological excavations are being carried out, not disturbing them; 
    • Do not collect materials or sediments;
    • Do not write or make graffiti on archaeological structures; 
    • Put the garbage in appropriate containers. If none exist, take the garbage with you until you find a suitable container; 
    • Leave the archaeological site as you found it; 
    • Do not drive bicycles or motor vehicles over archaeological sites; 
    • Respect and protect the plants and animals that live in the areas surrounding archaeological sites;
    • Report signs of vandalism or destruction to DGPC or Regional Directorates of Culture (DRC);
    • Share the visiting experience and the archaeological sites, as a way of raising awareness to their preservation and making them better known;
    • Do not buy archaeological materials and report to public security authorities, DGPC or DRC, if you suspect that archaeological materials may be for sale.

    Further information:

    AIA / ATTA (2013) – Guide to best practices for archaeological tourism. 

    Raposo, J. (2016) – Código de conduta para uma visita responsável a sítios arqueológicos. In Sítios arqueológicos portugueses revisitados: 500 arqueossítios ou conjuntos em condições de fruição pública responsável. Al-madan, 2ª série, p. 20 – 77. 

    DGPC contacts

    Phone: +351213614200 | Email: informacaoarqueologica@dgpc.pt

     


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