7th century BC - 7th century AD

Roman villa of Freiria

Roman
villa
located on one of the valley slopes of a small tributary of the Lage stream, in an area of abundant water resources and potential for agriculture.
The area was occupied since the Neolithic-Chalcolithic (as evidenced by the presence of ceramics with campaniform decoration) until the modern age, with a particularly well-characterized Roman period. Archaeological work has identified the
pars urbana
of a
peristyle
villa
, which preserves some compartments paved with multi-coloured mosaic. The
pars urbana
was associated with the proprietor's
baths
, with three areas for
baths
at different temperatures (
frigidarium
,
tepidarium
and
caldarium
). Another building with the same function, but larger, was found in the villa's south edge. Planned as a second
baths
complex, it was never finished, having afterwards been converted for dyeing and washing clothes.
The area associated with agricultural production (
pars fructuaria
) is characterized by two large structures: the granary, located to the north of the second
baths
, and the mill (possibly for olives), to the east of the manor house.
Pars fructuaria
structures were also identified, possibly used for housing for the villa's workers.
On the facing shore of the stream, to the southeast, an area of the
necropolis
was identified with
cremation
tombs, corresponding to the first stage of Roman occupation of the site, and
inhumation
tombs, from a later period. Child burials were also identified in the constructed area of the
villa
, namely in the area of the northern mill, after its use was abandoned.
Add to route
Musealized

Epigraphs

Ara dedicated to the deity Triborunis

Typology

Epigraphs, Rural property | Villa / Casal, Necropolis, Warehouse / Granary, Mill

Archeological interventions

1985-2002

Suggested reading

Encarnação, J. (2005) - A presença romana em Cascais: um território da Lusitânia ocidental. Lisboa: Museu Nacional de Arqueologia. Cascais: Câmara Municipal de Cascais.

Cardoso, G. (2018) - Villa romana de Freiria: Estudo Arqueológico. Cascais: Câmara Municipal de Cascais.

Address

Rua de Freiria, Polima , Cascais

Useful links

Cascais Culture - Archaeological Heritage - https://cultura.cascais.pt/listagens/patrimonio-arqueologico

Identification code​

LxR1105004