Centum Cellas, Archaeological site in Belmonte e Colmeal da Torre, Portugal.
Torre de Centum-Cellas is a three-story stone tower with a rectangular base, wall openings on multiple levels, and two decorative friezes that separate each floor. It stands on Monte de Santo Antão and formed part of an expansive Roman villa complex that spread across the surrounding area.
The tower was built in the first century as part of a villa owned by a wealthy tin merchant named Lucius Caecilius. In the third century it survived a major fire, and during medieval times the structure was adapted to house a chapel.
The tower formed the heart of a large Roman villa where wealthy merchants and their families lived and conducted business. The ruins today reflect how this location served as an important economic center in the region nearly 2000 years ago.
The site sits on a hilltop with open views of the surroundings, and access is on foot. A visitor center with information about the Roman period helps you understand the remains and their historical context.
In medieval times, a chapel dedicated to Saint Cornelius was built into the tower and remained there until the 18th century. This shows how Roman structures were repurposed and given new meaning by generations that came after.
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