Archaeological Station of Póvoa do Mileu

This archaeological site is located in the proximity of the Romanesque Chapel of N. Ms. of the Mileu and it was discovered in 1951. There are important archaeological structures of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, specially the Roman thermal building, which is something very rare or unique in the Beiras. The term Termas was applied to the places of public baths, spaces of social life and civilization, hygiene and massage, social gathering and culture, exercise and even business meetings. The baths became the most characteristic buildings of Roman cities and the baths were understood as an important ritual in society. The spatial distribution, architectural design, sequence of the compartments and materials and technologies used reveal a very rational, thoughtful and even monumental building system. Despite being situated away from the great poles of the time, the site of these Roman baths would already be an urban centre of a considerable amount of people, thus justifying the construction of these public baths, integrating a network of urban poles of the Roman Lusitânia.Direction for the website: https://chmileu.museudaguarda.pt/