Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

I’m a sucker for a bit of history, and when I was reading my travel guide to the Algarve I spotted somewhere that I thought might be worth adding to our list of places to visit on our recent trip.  We’d spent some time exploring Tavira down on the eastern coast of the Algarve and on our way back to Silves we spent some time exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

If you want to spend time exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu, you will find the site just on the outskirts of the village of Estói.  There are only a few parking spaces available on site, but it wouldn’t be a long walk really, if you had to park in the village and walk back.  It was very quiet when we visited and I was immediately impressed by how cheap it was! For a couple of Euros you have free access to the site and a small museum.  There are toilets, but no cafe facilities.

There are information points around the site to help you visualise what the villa complex would have look like during the 1st century AD.

It really must have been a beautiful place to visit when it was complete, set in the Portuguese countryside.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

Apparently marble statues were once in place, but these can now been found in museums in Faro and Lagos.

There are a number of beautiful mosaics around the site which we discovered when we were exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu. Most with some reference to marine life.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

We tried to imagine who might have enjoyed bathing in the various pools and how vivid the colours might once have been.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

It was nice to watch my son wander off and explore with his Granny, and see him taking an interest.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

Hopefully the visit brought to life some of what he’d learned in class about Pompeii earlier this year.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

it was certainly a great opportunity for him to get close up to the mosaics and see how the Romans had invented under floor heating so long ago.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

No matter what age you are, there’s always something rather fascinating about looking down a well!

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

The Roman Temple was converted into a church in the 6th century, and then into a mosque in the 8th century.  But in the 10th century it collapsed, may be in an earthquake, and the whole site was abandoned.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

As we were exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu we couldn’t help but notice the large white washed farmhouse.  Originally built over the ruins in the 15th century, it’s been modified over the years, but it’s well worth a visit inside, where the floors have been removed to reveal the treasures beneath.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu doesn’t take hours, but it’s definitely worth a visit if you are passing.  It’s worth noting that the site is exposed, so in the middle of summer I can imagine it getting rather hot, but the farmhouse and museum offer shade.

We think we might have spotted a fossil in the stone work during our visit too, what do you think?

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

May be pin this post for later if you’re visiting the Algarve this summer.

Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

Country Kids
 

18 thoughts on “Exploring the Roman ruins of Milreu

  1. This is my sort of place. We have just come back from Greece with the triplets and I had warned them we would be doing trips like this, they were not at all amused but actually took it in good grace so long as it wasn’t for too long. The ruins of Milreu looks a perfect opportunity for a little culture and history in an hour or so, just enough to hold kids attention. I love how much is still visible today of the mosaic and artwork. It gives to a base to imagine the rest.

    Thank you for sharing with me on #CoutnryKids

  2. We have some small roman ruins in Silchester near us, but these are amazing and its great to imagine back through the ages. We’re definitely put in on our list on our next trip to Portugal x #CountryKids

  3. Amazing! I know nothing about travelling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.

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