Santiago da Guarda

Santiago da Guarda is about twenty minutes away, and is a small town of just over 3000 inhabitants,but it is so worth a visit. Within striking distance of Carregal is Conimbriga, just south of Coimbra, perhaps the largest site in Europe of Roman ruins, and that has only been excavated partially, only about thirty percent has been exposed.

Then just south again is Rabacal, another small town which has a museum devoted to Roman remains and which has what is left of a Villa not far away.This also has some wonderful mosaic floors. These are covered in sand to preserve them, which is brushed aside for the tourist to view,and covered again after the visit.

Finally Santiago da Guarda has these Roman remains that were built on over the centuries,and developed into a fortified quinta, which formed part of a defensive chain in the 16th century, evolving over time, into a into local bar in the tower part and village shop with outbuildings owned by a local family, until purchased in 2006 ,and as you can see has been fully restored