The Roman ruins of São Cucufate (or alternately, the ''Roman ruins of the Villa of São Cucufate'', ''Ruins of Santiago'', ''Archaeological ruins of São Cucufate'' or ''Roman villa of São Áulica'') is a Romanesque
archaeological
Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
site, located on the ruins of a Roman-era agricultural farm in the civil parish of
Vila de Frades, in the municipality of
Vidigueira
Vidigueira ( or ) is a town and a List of municipalities of Portugal, municipality in the District of Beja (Portugal), District of Beja in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 5,932, in an area of 316.61 km2.
The present Mayor is Manuel Rosa ...
, in the southern
Alentejo
Alentejo ( , ) is a geographical, historical, and cultural region of south–central and southern Portugal. In Portuguese, its name means "beyond () the Tagus river" (''Tejo'').
Alentejo includes the regions of Alto Alentejo and Baixo Alent ...
,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
. The
convent
A convent is a community of monks, nuns, religious brothers or, sisters or priests. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The word is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...
, which dates back to
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
, was dedicated to the martyred saint
Cucuphas.
History
![São Cucufate Altarpiece inside the old roman vila](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/S%C3%A3o_Cucufate_Altarpiece_inside_the_old_roman_vila.jpg)
Around the end of the 4th millennium, Neolithic clans had already occupied the areas of southern Alentejo, selecting this location, only temporarily, to base their activities.
[
The beginnings of the convent were laid down in the first century with the construction a small Roman villa.][Patrícia Sofia Rasgado Mareco (2007), p.135] It followed the model of architectural design in that period: built around the baths and peristyle
In ancient Greek and Roman architecture, a peristyle (; from Greek ) is a continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or a courtyard. Tetrastoön ( grc, τετράστῳον or τετράστοον, lit=fou ...
.
Between the 3rd and 4th centuries, construction occurred on what was later considered the second ''villa'' complex.[ The massive complex that is visible today dates from the mid-4th century. The bath renovations were never completed. The villa was abandoned in the mid-5th century or possible earlier at the end of the 4th century (Marceo, p. 130).
Around the 9th century, the convent was established on the grounds/ruins of the Roman villa, and which persisted until the late 12th century.][ In 1254, the ecclesiastical parish of São Cucufate was installed in the convent,][ under the supervision of the monastery of São Vicente de Fora.][ The ]Augustine
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berbers, Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia (Roman pr ...
canon
Canon or Canons may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base
* Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture
** Western ca ...
s that lived in the convent were later followed by Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
monks.[
Around the 17th century, the buildings were abandoned by the monastic community, although one hermit monk remained. With a few discontinuities, transformations and adaptations, the occupation of this space extended until the 18th century, primarily since the contiguous area could be utilized for its rich soils and abundance of water, to establish a small garden and residence.][ It is certain that the chapel continued to serve the small local community until the 18th century.][
]
Republic
In 1975, the ''DGEMN - Direcção Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais'' (''General Directorate of Buildings and National Monuments'') was involved in the process to consolidate the sites protection, reinforce the walls and pavements and repair the doors.[ In the following year, the masonry was repaired and vaulted ceilings, while some doors were reinforced or added.][
The first excavations were begun under the orientation of Jorge Alarcão and R. Etienne in 1979, and which were renewed in 1981 and 1985.][
Investigations carried out by the IPPAR, at the São Cucufate site marked the beginning of the a new period of occupation.][ On 1 June 1992, the site was transferred into the supervision and authority of the IPPAR (under legal dispatch 106F/92).][ Under the IPPAR the site was reorganized, with a formal archaeological excavation established, the landscaping around the periphery and the establishment of tourist-oriented spaces construction of an interpretative centre completed in 2001 (by the architects Franscisco Caldeira Cabral and Nuno Bruno Soares). In order to expand education and preserved the historical continuity of the area, the IPPAR created the ''Núcleo Museológico'' in Vila de Frades, in the ''Casa do Arco'' and ''Casa do Almeida'', two urban buildings ceded from the municipal council of Vidigueira, to serve as interpretative centres for the archaeological site.][
]
Architecture
São Cucufate is situated off the IP2 in the direction of Vidigueira
Vidigueira ( or ) is a town and a List of municipalities of Portugal, municipality in the District of Beja (Portugal), District of Beja in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 5,932, in an area of 316.61 km2.
The present Mayor is Manuel Rosa ...
, and the EN258 to Vila de Frades, towards Monte de Guadalupe.
Located in a slightly elevated location, the 1st century Roma era rural village dominated the space, with a southern view of the landscape until Beja. It was likely the centre of a small community, with the property-owner's residence, spaces for agricultural storage, warehousing and equipment to work the land in the production of wine and olive oil.[ During this period, and in successive years (until the late 4th century) the main house was progressively expanded, during two great projects.][ The first, originating in the 2nd century, was initially a timid expansion of the residence (pars urbana).][ The second, in the middle of the 4th century, marked a complete schism with the older architectural style, with a principal façade oriented around several interior courtyards open to the exterior, along a linear line.][ It is these modifications that, today, remain conserved at the archaeological site. These latter changes also reflect a grandiose style and opulance from an epoch that came to an end.][
This late Roman villa exceeds all the typical dimensions of the Roman ''villae'' in Portugal (even as its true extent is undetermined).][ There are still indications that the remainder of the rustic structures have not been completely unearthed, and which extend south from the main group.][ Unlike other Roman civil architecture in Portugal, which is oriented primarily around ]peristyle
In ancient Greek and Roman architecture, a peristyle (; from Greek ) is a continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or a courtyard. Tetrastoön ( grc, τετράστῳον or τετράστοον, lit=fou ...
design, this "villa" was developed vertically, with a main floor and vaulted galleries supported by the main facades framed/flanked by protruding bodies. The closest parallels are the Roman villas of Milreu, Pisões and Rabaçal.[
The Roman-era villa is a plan composed of a central rectangular body encircled by two almost-symmetrical, lateral rectangular buildings.][ The exception is a semi-circular ]apse
In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an ''exedra''. In ...
that completes the northern body's eastern wing. A few spaces only continue to show their walls, while a few still have their vaulted ceiling and terraces.[
The principal façade, oriented to the northwest, corresponds to the central body, where one can seem a long gallery preceded by a landing, which connects to remnants of a garden, by three steps.][ To the rear, is a gallery that remains partially covered in a vaulted ceiling, with arcades for a grand tank, 35 by 10 metres.][
In the northern lateral body, are the remains of the rectangular chapel, with semi-circular apse, covered in wicker doors, broken by an arched lintel, with straight and rectangular openings.][ The interior comprises two naves, separated by 3 arches over pillars, and covered by three transverse vaults. The juxtaposed apse is covered by a vaulted ceiling with a central shell motif at its apex.][
Since there is no heating system within the Roman villa, it has been suggested that the villa was only used during the harvest season.][Almeida (1971)]
In the southern part of the villa, are the remains of a Roman temple (connected by a wall) and constituted of a rectangular cell-apse with two niche
Niche may refer to:
Science
*Developmental niche, a concept for understanding the cultural context of child development
*Ecological niche, a term describing the relational position of an organism's species
*Niche differentiation, in ecology, the ...
s in the internal walls.[
Archaeological artifacts found in the excavations have included ceramics, glass, and metal implements, as well as copper and silver coins.][ These discoveries have been outshined by the excavation of a bronze statue, representing an emperor in a ]toga
The toga (, ), a distinctive garment of ancient Rome, was a roughly semicircular cloth, between in length, draped over the shoulders and around the body. It was usually woven from white wool, and was worn over a tunic. In Roman historical tra ...
, crowned with laurel, in addition to a small altar and marble tomb.[
]
See also
* Roman ruins of Pisões
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Ruins of Sao Cucufate
Sao Cucufate
National monuments in Beja District
Buildings and structures in Beja District
Tourist attractions in Beja District