Conimbriga Ruins

The Conimbriga Ruins sit a few kilometres south of Coimbra and hold the most complete Roman site in Portugal. Streets, villas, thermal baths, an amphitheatre and a forum have been excavated, and several mosaic floors still show vivid designs. A museum and visitor centre beside the ruins explain the city's history. Allow time to walk the grounds slowly, and take a break at the on-site café partway through.

From Augustus to the third-century wall

The settlement was founded under Augustus, but it became a municipium, or city, only during the Flavian dynasty, around 80 CE. Its later history is marked by the threat of raids from Germanic peoples. In the third century, the town built a high wall in a hurry, using spolia, which are stones and fragments taken from older buildings.

Most Roman towns had no walls. This one is a clear sign of a dangerous period, and it is one of the most visible reminders of that crisis on the site.

What is on the grounds

The ruins include houses with mosaic floors, an amphitheatre, thermal baths, a forum and a basilica, all of which have been excavated. Tunnels and stone benches are also visible. The layout of the streets and villas makes it possible to picture how the town was organised day to day.

The museum is small and modest, but it adds useful context about the site. Start there, then walk the ruins. Information is given in both Portuguese and English, and the museum is a size that holds children's interest without tiring them.