Ruínas romanas do Cerro da Vila

Ruínas romanas do Cerro da Vila is an archaeological site with the remains of a Roman seaside villa, located in the parish of Quarteira, in the municipality of Loulé, on Portugal's Algarve coast. It sits right beside the Vilamoura resort and marina, on Avenida Cerro da Vila, opposite the Hotel da Marinha.

How was the site discovered?

By accident. A farmer was ploughing his field when the plough caught on stones buried in the soil. Under one slab he found mosaics. Word reached José Farrajota, an engineer and archaeologist, who visited the place in 1963. Excavation campaigns followed over the years and uncovered a sizeable complex of buildings.

What was Cerro da Vila?

The surviving complex is a villa with many rooms, laid out in the manner typical of Roman coastal residences. Sources disagree on when it was founded. Some place its beginnings around the turn of the era, while others describe a villa complex of the second or third century. All agree that life here carried on long after the Roman period: the site is believed to have been inhabited until the 11th century AD, through the Visigothic and Moorish eras.

How did the settlement make its living?

Its most important activity was making garum, a fish-based sauce, and the product was exported across the whole Roman Empire. Proximity to the sea and its fish made this stretch of the Algarve coast a natural base for such production.

The museum on site

The Monographic Museum of Cerro da Vila opened in 2000. It displays artefacts recovered during the excavations: not only Roman, but also medieval, Visigothic and Moorish. It is a small museum, so a visit is short, but it complements the ruins well because it shows the everyday objects used by the people who lived here.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the ruins?

In Quarteira, in the municipality of Loulé, on Avenida Cerro da Vila, near Vilamoura and opposite the Hotel da Marinha.

When was the site discovered?

A farmer found mosaics while ploughing, and the archaeologist José Farrajota examined the place in 1963.

What did the inhabitants do for a living?

Mainly they produced garum, the fish sauce exported throughout the Roman Empire.

Is there a museum?

Yes. The Monographic Museum of Cerro da Vila has been open since 2000 and presents Roman, Visigothic, Moorish and medieval finds.

Is it worth a visit while staying in Vilamoura?

Yes. It is one of the few places on this part of the coast where, next to luxury hotels and the marina, you can see traces of life nearly two thousand years old. Check opening hours before you go, as they may change.