Milreu Ruins, Algarve, Portugal / photo released under public domain

During the 2nd century BC the Algarve came under the control of the Romans and they spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula. The Roman Empire ruled throughout the Algarve until it was conquered by the Visigoths and many Roman ruins still stand in the region today.

There are many sites to view Roman ruins in the Algarve, so here are some of the most impressive historical hotspots:

Milreu Ruins – Unearth Buried Treasure

One of the best places in the Algarve to see the remains of Roman civilization is at the Milreu Ruins, which are located only a few kilometres from Faro. There are some of the most significant ruins from Roman times in all the Algarve and their archaeological site has been designated a national monument.

If you were to transport yourself back in time at this spot, you would be able to walk into a gorgeous luxury rural villa on a wealthy farm, complete with ornate sculptures and elaborate tile mosaic floors. Later in the 6th century it was converted into a Christian church and later the site of an Islamic cemetery. The vaulted ceilings of this impressive building collapsed in the 10th century and the site was abandoned, but it has since been recovered and its heritage has been preserved.

The site is now known as the Casa Rural das Ruinas or the “Country House of the Ruins” and it has been extensively preserved and turned into a visitor’s centre and museum. As you walk through where the manor house, farm buildings, baths, temple and wine press would have been, you will have a chance to see what life would have been like during the time of the Romans.

Cero da Vila – Ancient Villas in the Sunshine

The coastal holiday resort of Vilamoura is well known for its gorgeous harbour lined with high quality restaurants and shops and populated with top-of-the-line sailing ships. However, this glitzy resort also holds some ancient treasures in the form of the Cerro da Vila Roman Ruins.

Like the ruins at Milreu, these were also once a large rural villa on a prosperous farm. As you stroll through the historical site you can see where the reception room, bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen would have been. Some of the mosaic tiles depicting decorative scenes have been preserved beautifully.

Quelfes Roman Bridge – Standing the Test of Time

It appears at first glance to be a modest, simple bridge structure, but the history behind Quelfes Roman Bridge is astounding. This bridge was constructed in the 1st century AD and is thought to be one of the most important road structures of the Roman occupation period in the Algarve.

This bridge also played an important part in another historical time. On June 18th, 1808 it was where the troops of Napoleon were defeated which was a point of uprising for the entire Algarve region. Restored in 2005, this old bridge is definitely worth a closer look.

The Algarve region has a long and fascinating history and many ruins remain from past inhabitants of this region. These are just a few of the places in the Algarve where you can see and touch the remnants of Roman times and learn more about what life would have been like so many centuries ago.

While you are staying at Four Seasons Fairways in the beautiful Algarve region of Portugal, here are some locations where you can spot ruins from Roman times.

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Today Sevilla has about 700 000 inhabitants. Like the most of the country, also Sevilla was for a long time – the whole 500 years – under the rule of Muslim Moors, who left indelible traces here. The name Andalusia comes from the Arabic “Al Andalus”, which was an Arabic name given to a nation in Iberian Peninsula under Arab domination. This term was derived from the Vandals, who inhabited the area at the turn of the 4th and 5th century.

When the Muslims were defeated in 1248 by King Ferdinand III. and 300 000 of them were driven, perfect Moorish architects and builders were still employed by the Christians. The city thanks them e.g. for the symbol of the city, minaret Giralda, Alcázar – romantic castle from the 14th century, but also for many other oriental buildings and beautiful gardens in the Arab style.

But Christians probably did not want to humiliate, and thus in the year of 1401 they began to build a huge cathedral, saying: “Let us build such a great cathedral that everyone who sees it, regarded us as crazy.”

At the site of a former mosque they built Cathedral of the Virgin Mary for over 100 years. It is built in Gothic style from the outside, but it was influenced by the Renaissance from the inside. Now it is the third largest cathedral in Europe and one of the most admired local tourist magnets – also for a fact that the famous navigator Christopher Columbus is buried here.

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Bullfighting is characteristic for the city of Sevilla. The first bullfight match took place in Sevilla around the year 1750. Later there was built one of the grandest arenas here, called Plaza Toros de la Maestranza, which can host around 12,500 visitors. Another favourite entertainment is Flamenco, typical Andalusian music and dance. Although flamenco is today for many a symbol of Spain, its creation came from the mixture of Gypsy, Jewish, Arab and others.

So if you want to see the bullfights and flamenco, the best time for your visit would be during some of ceremonies or festivals. Sevilla offers a number of interesting museums and other attractions, like the old Jewish quarter with non-Jewish name Barrio de Santa Cruz, Plazza de Espana square with arcades and malls, and more. Perhaps everyone comes into his own here.

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