Castle of Pena de Aguiar, Castle ruins in Telões, Portugal
Castelo de Pena de Aguiar is a castle ruin set on a granite ridge above the valley of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, in northern Portugal. Two towers are connected by a curved wall that forms the core of this compact hilltop structure.
Romans built a military post here in the 1st century BC to guard the trade route between Aquas Flavias and Lamecum. Medieval builders later expanded the site using Romanesque construction methods.
Archaeological excavations between 1982 and 1984 revealed ceramics, metallic objects, and evidence of prehistoric settlements, leading to National Monument designation.
The site is reached by walking a steep mountain path from Telões, with some demanding sections along the way. The ruins can be explored freely, and the hilltop gives open views over the surrounding land.
Excavations in the 1980s uncovered pottery and metal objects showing that people lived on this hilltop long before the Romans arrived. This makes the site much older than its visible stone walls suggest.
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