Location: 2 km (1 mi) South of Condeixa- a- Nova Map
Site:
Open: 15 Mar- 15 Sep: 10am- 8pm daily
16 Sep- 14 Mar:
10am- 6pm daily
Closed: 25 Dec
Museum: Tel. 239 941 177
Open:
15 Mar- 15 Sep: 10am- 8pm Tue- Sun
16 Sep- 14 Mar: 10am- 6pm Tue- Sun
Conímbriga is one of the largest and best-preserved Roman settlements excavated in Portugal, located in the civil parish of Condeixa-a-Velha e Condeixa-a-Nova, approximately 2 kilometers from the municipal seat of Condeixa-a-Nova and 16 kilometers southwest of Coimbra. Classified as a National Monument in 1910, the site spans a walled urban area with a 1,500-meter-long stone curtain wall, featuring vaulted entrances, defensive towers, and sophisticated water management systems. It represents a key example of Roman urban planning in the Iberian Peninsula, with evidence of occupation dating back to the Iron Age. The site was a prosperous municipium during the Roman Empire, serving as a junction on major roads connecting Olisipo (modern Lisbon) to Bracara Augusta (modern Braga) via Aeminium (modern Coimbra). Today, it includes partially excavated ruins, an archaeological reserve, and the Conímbriga National Museum, offering insights into Roman daily life, architecture, and culture. Only about 10% of the estimated original city has been unearthed as of the early 2000s, leaving significant potential for future discoveries.
The site's history begins in the 9th century BCE with the Castro
culture, an Iron Age hill-fort society associated with the
Gallaecians and Astures. This was followed by settlement by the
indigenous Conii peoples, from whom the name "Conímbriga"
derives—combining "conim" (rocky eminence) with the Celtic suffix
"briga" (citadel). Roman influence arrived around 139 BCE during the
campaigns of Decimus Junius Brutus against the Lusitanians, leading
to formal Roman occupation and urbanization. The settlement
flourished under Roman rule, benefiting from its strategic yet
peaceful location, which accelerated Romanization through
intermarriage between Italian colonists and locals.
By the
Flavian period (69–79 CE), under Emperor Vespasian, Conímbriga was
elevated to municipium status, prompting extensive urban development
including a forum, basilica, thermal baths, aqueducts, and insulae
(apartment blocks). The city's peak extended from the late 1st
century BCE to the 4th century CE, with a population estimated at
around 10,600 based on the capacity of its amphitheater. Major
constructions, such as elite domus (private residences), occurred in
the 2nd and 3rd centuries, with the Augustan walls replaced by more
defensive structures by the late 3rd century amid growing threats.
In the 4th century, a paleo-Christian basilica was built, indicating
the spread of Christianity. The site's decline began with Suevic
invasions between 465 and 468 CE, which destroyed much of the city
and led to the enslavement or dispersal of its inhabitants. A
bishopric was briefly established here between 561 and 572 CE under
Bishop Lucêncio, but by 589 CE, it shifted to nearby Aeminium, which
evolved into Coimbra. Post-Roman occupation included
Suevo-Visigothic influences, but the site was largely abandoned
until rediscovery in the 16th century.
Awareness of the ruins dates to the 16th century, with early
references in parochial documents and inscriptions ordered by King
Manuel I in 1519 on a local church facade. Formal archaeological
interest emerged in the 19th century: Emil Hübner visited in 1869,
leading to the creation of the Coimbra Institute's archaeology
section in 1873. Initial excavations began that year, uncovering
mosaics that were removed for study, and by 1899, the first
comprehensive plan of the oppidum (fortified settlement) was
developed.
Systematic state-led excavations started in 1929–1930,
driven by the XI International Congress of Anthropology and
Prehistory, with the Portuguese government acquiring most of the
land. Reconstruction and consolidation efforts followed in the
1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, focusing on mosaics and structures like the
eastern gates. A Luso-French mission from 1965–1968 revealed public
buildings, while the amphitheater was identified in 1993 and
partially excavated in 2012–2013, confirming its 5,000-person
capacity. Discoveries include coins, surgical tools, utensils,
ceramics, sculptures, painted murals, and intricate mosaics, many of
which reflect daily life, trade, religion, and mythological themes.
Conímbriga's layout reflects three phases of Roman urban
development: late Republican (1st century BCE) with foundational
public works; Flavian (1st century CE) expansions; and later
defensive adaptations. Prominent structures include:
City
Walls and Gates: Built hastily in the late 3rd century using
recycled materials like broken tiles, these 5–6.5-meter-high walls
span 1,500 meters with vaulted entrances and twin towers.
Baths:
Three complexes exist—the Great Southern Baths, Baths of the Wall,
and Baths of the Aqueduct—featuring hypocaust heating systems,
changing rooms, cold plunges, warm and hot rooms, and furnaces.
Domus (Houses): The Casa dos Repuxos (House of the Fountains), from
the Severan period (193–235 CE), includes mosaics of hunting scenes,
Bacchus, Perseus, and a central peristyle with a lake and water
features. The Casa de Cantaber, the largest at 3,260 square meters
with 40 rooms and a hypocaust, belonged to a 5th-century aristocrat
killed during the Suevic invasions.
Forum and Public Buildings: A
monumental forum with a basilica, commercial shops, and aqueducts
highlights the city's civic center.
Amphitheater: Dating to the
Julio-Claudian dynasty, this 90x60x20-meter structure, partially
buried under modern homes, could seat 5,000 and remains largely
unexcavated.
Mosaics and Roads: Intricate mosaics depict animals,
myths, and geometrics, scattered across houses and streets with
visible cart grooves and shopfronts.
Paleo-Christian Basilica: A
5th–6th-century structure built over a domus, showing early
Christian adaptation.
The Conímbriga National Museum, inaugurated in 1962 and elevated to national status in 2017, houses artifacts from the site, including statues, funerary monuments, mosaics (e.g., a Minotaur in a maze), coins, tools, ceramics, and a colossal head of Augustus Caesar. Displays evoke Roman trade, religion, and daily life, with English and Portuguese labels, a scale model of the city, and a virtual tour available online. The museum's mission includes site protection, public exposure, and ongoing research.
As Portugal's premier Roman site, Conímbriga illustrates the extent of Roman influence in Lusitania, blending indigenous and imperial elements. Its preservation offers unique insights into urban planning, engineering (e.g., hypocausts and aqueducts), and societal transitions from pagan to Christian eras, as well as the impact of barbarian invasions. The site's integration of ruins and museum makes it a vital educational and cultural resource.
Located at Rua Professor Vergílio Correia, 3150-220 Condeixa-a-Velha, the site is open daily from 10am to 6pm (ticket office closes at 5:15pm), except on major holidays like January 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, July 24, and December 25. Admission is €10, with online tickets available. Access is easiest by car (free parking; ~20 minutes from Coimbra, 1 hour from Porto), though buses from Coimbra to Condeixa-a-Nova followed by a short walk or taxi are options. The site is compact and walkable but features uneven surfaces—wear sturdy shoes and bring water, especially in summer. No on-site dining, but nearby Condeixa-a-Nova offers restaurants serving local dishes like chanfana and leitão à Bairrada. Best visited in spring or autumn for milder weather; guided tours, including family-friendly options, are available. Facilities include a shop, restaurant (at the museum), documentation center, and auditorium. For more, visit the official website or explore via Google Arts and Culture.