Roman Ruins of Villa Áulica and Convent of São Cucufate
Encyclopedia
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 site, located on the ruins of a Roman-era argicultural farm in the civil parish of Vila de Frades, in the municipality of Vidigueira, in the southern Alentejo, Portugal
. The convent
, which dates back to Middle Ages
, was dedicated to the martyred Spanish
saint Cucuphas
.
The beginnings of the convent were laid down in the first century with the construction a small Roman villa (around 360). It followed the model of architectural design in that period: built around the baths and peristyle
.
Between the 3rd and 4th centuries, construction occurred on what what was later considered the second villa complex.
Even before the end of the Roman empire, around the beginning of the 5th century, the site had already been abandoned.
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 canon
s that lived in the convent were later followed by Benedictine
monks.
Around the 17th century, the buildings were abandoned by the monastic community, although one hermit monk remained. With a few discontinuities, transformations and adapatations, the occupation of this space extended until the 18th century, primarily since the continguous 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.
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.
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 characterized by the urbanization of the residence. 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 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
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 an semi-circular apse
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.
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
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
, crowned with laurel, in addition to a small altar and marble tomb.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. The convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
, which dates back to Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, was dedicated to the martyred Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
saint Cucuphas
Cucuphas
Saint Cucuphas is a martyr of Spain...
.
History
Around the end of the 4th millenium, 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 (around 360). It followed the model of architectural design in that period: built around the baths and peristyle
Peristyle
In Hellenistic Greek and Roman architecture a peristyle is a columned porch or open colonnade in a building surrounding a court that may contain an internal garden. Tetrastoon is another name for this feature...
.
Between the 3rd and 4th centuries, construction occurred on what what was later considered the second villa complex.
Even before the end of the Roman empire, around the beginning of the 5th century, the site had already been abandoned.
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
São Vicente de Fora
São Vicente de Fora is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Lisbon. It has a total area of 0.31 km² and total population of 4,267 inhabitants ; density: 13,853.9 hab/km².-Main sites:*Monastery of São Vicente de Fora...
. The Augustine canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
s that lived in the convent were later followed by Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monks.
Around the 17th century, the buildings were abandoned by the monastic community, although one hermit monk remained. With a few discontinuities, transformations and adapatations, the occupation of this space extended until the 18th century, primarily since the continguous 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, 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 characterized by the urbanization of the residence. 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 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
Peristyle
In Hellenistic Greek and Roman architecture a peristyle is a columned porch or open colonnade in a building surrounding a court that may contain an internal garden. Tetrastoon is another name for this feature...
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 an semi-circular apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
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.
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 (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
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
Toga
The toga, a distinctive garment of Ancient Rome, was a cloth of perhaps 20 ft in length which was wrapped around the body and was generally worn over a tunic. The toga was made of wool, and the tunic under it often was made of linen. After the 2nd century BC, the toga was a garment worn...
, crowned with laurel, in addition to a small altar and marble tomb.