Roman villa of Ammaia

Welcome to the archaeological site of Ammaia, a 'vanquished town' that once flourished as a vital urban center in the Roman province of Lusitania. Founded during the reign of Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome, Ammaia serves as…

We begin our tour at the Porta do Sol, the South Gate of Ammaia. This was the most significant entrance to the city, positioned along the road that connected Ammaia to Emerita Augusta, the provincial capital—known today as Merida…

Walking north from the South Gate along the Cardo Maximus, we reach the heart of the city: the Forum. In every Roman town, the forum was the center of public life—a grand square where politics, religion, and commerce converged. …

On the opposite side of the forum square from the temple, we find the remains of the Basilica. In the Roman context, a basilica was not primarily a religious building, but rather a multi-purpose public hall used as a courthouse…

Across the street from the forum complex lie the public baths, an essential feature of any Roman urban center. Bathing was more than a matter of hygiene for the Romans; it was a daily social ritual that brought the community…

The survival of a city like Ammaia in this landscape depended entirely on the mastery of water. To our east, in the hills, several natural springs provided a constant supply of fresh water. …

Our journey through the lost city of Ammaia concludes here, in the heart of the Alentejo. We have walked the same path as the Roman merchants through the Porta do Sol, stood in the shadow of the great temple in the forum, and…