Alto da Vigia
Alto da Vigia is the site of a monumental Roman sanctuary from the 2nd–3rd centuries CE.
Archaeology Museum of Saint Michael of Odrinhas
Museu Arqueológico de São Miguel de Odrinhas
Elyn AvivaThe Archaeology Museum of San Miguel de Odrinhas (MASMO) explores the history of the region for over 2,000 years, beginning with the 1st century BCE.
“We don’t usually think of an archeology museum as a powerful place, but this museum is an exception because of its location. It is next to a Roman villa, a 12th-century church, and a medieval cemetery. Visible on a nearby hill is the Barreira Megalithic Complex. At least some of the stones appear to have been manipulated by humans. These varied constructions demonstrate the ongoing attraction of ancient sacred sites to later inhabitants.” —Elyn
For thousands of years, Sintra has been home to diverse communities of various origins and cultural traditions. Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, Moorish, Christian—many different people have settled in the region and left behind material remains. Local farmers and villagers have collected them, and archaeologists have dug for them. The area around São Miguel de Odrinhas is an excellent example of “the power of place” that draws people to re-use the same location over millennia.
Keep on reading
Mines and Tunnels
Legends abound of mysterious tunnels honeycombing Sintra Mountain.
