Villa romana de Santo André de Almoçageme, cultural heritage monument in Sintra, Portugal
Villa romana de Santo André de Almoçageme is a Roman villa in Colares occupied from the first to the fifth century with multiple residential and working areas. The northern section held the main house with rooms arranged around a central courtyard, while the southern part displays production facilities including kilns and processing tanks used for pottery and clay work.
The villa was likely constructed in the first or second century and served as an important center for agricultural and ceramic production in the region. A road built in the early 1900s divided the site into two parts, and extensive excavations between 1985 and 1990 revealed its complex structure and valuable mosaics.
The name references Saint André, and the site shows traces of its dual use as both a residential and working space visible today. The division between the northern residential area with decorated mosaic floors and the southern working area with kilns and processing tanks reveals how Romans organized their rural homes and production together.
The site is easily accessible from nearby towns and features informational signage with maintained pathways for safe exploration. Guided tours are available and a newly built walkway provides visitors access to the mosaics and ruins without causing damage.
Two small graves made from curved tiles were discovered for children at the site, revealing that youngsters were buried on this property. These rare remains offer a touching glimpse into family life and burial practices of the Roman inhabitants nearly 2000 years ago.
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