Citânia de Briteiros is one of Portugal’s most significant archaeological sites, located atop São Romão hill in the former parish of Salvador de Briteiros, Guimarães. This fortified settlement, known as a castro, dates back to the Iron Age and serves as a remarkable testament to the Castro culture that once thrived in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Designated a National Monument in 1910, Citânia de Briteiros has been the focus of extensive archaeological research since the 19th century, revealing fascinating details about the lives of its ancient inhabitants.
History and Origins of Citânia de BriteirosSão Romão hill has been inhabited since the Neolithic or Chalcolithic periods, but the castro, as we know it today, developed later, reaching its peak between the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE. This fortified settlement spans 24 hectares, with 7 hectares accessible to visitors.