Post by account_disabled on Feb 18, 2024 3:00:41 GMT -6
Tower Centum Cellas Tower. By Andre Carvalho Photography In the town of Colmeal da Torre , in the municipality of Belmonte , one hour from the border with the province of Salamanca , there is a unique place that attracts visitors from all over the world. Not only for its beauty, but fundamentally for its mysterious and enigmatic history. 12 meters high and built in the 1st century, the Centum Cellas tower contains centuries of legends, myths and stories that have been passed down from generation to generation but, to this day, the functionality of this place remains a mystery. Over the years, the countless legends that fill the imagination of the region's population have also contributed to perpetuating the mystery surrounding the tower. In an interview with EscapadaRural , Elisabete Robalo, archaeologist at the Belmonte City Council, gives some examples of these legends: it is said that Pope Saint Cornelius was imprisoned in this tower (due to the place name Cellas, which refers to prison); that a golden calf is hidden at the door of the tower; that the person who built the building was a woman with her son on her back and that her shadow climbed mountains.
However, for the archaeologist, more important than the legends are the different theories about the functionality of the Centum Cellas tower. In 1874, the historian Pinho Leal attributed the tower's function as a watchtower - a high place from which to watch -, believing that it had been built by King Don Dinis, but that it was originally of Roman foundation. Pinho Leal believed that a small town would have existed around him. Centum Cellas Tower Centum Cellas Tower. By José Antonio Gil Martínez Elisabete Robalo considers that it is very likely that, during the medieval period, the tower was used as a watchtower, possibly at the Cell Phone Number List same time that the church, dedicated to Saint Cornelius, was built, of which remains can also be found at the site. “In fact, the excavations carried out at the site showed that the tower was not an isolated element, there were remains around it, some already destroyed with the construction of the road,” concludes the archaeologist. In 1928, the archaeologist Virgílio Correia reported that the site would have been a sanctuary. For General João de Almeida, in 1945, this would have been the tower where Pope Saint Cornelius was imprisoned, as people believed, hence it was also known as the Tower of Saint Cornelius .
Already in 1962, the archaeologist Adriano Vasco Rodrigues believed that it could be a praetorium (Roman camp) located next to the Roman road. For Elisabete Robalo, this explanation makes a lot of sense, since “Centum Cellas was located near the Roman road that linked Mérida with Braga and milestones were identified nearby.” Centum Cellas Tower Centum Cellas Tower. By Belmonte City Council In 1964, Aurélio Ricardo Belo excavated the site for the first time and observed that the tower was not an isolated building. For the archaeologist, the site would have been a mansio , a type of inn, from the 1st to the 5th century. Years later, in 1990, Vasco Mantas also defended the thesis that it would have been a mansio . As late as 1984, the architect Calais found parallels between the tower and Egyptian and Greek constructions, stating that it was a temple. Already in 1988, the historian and archaeologist Jorge Alarcão believed that it was a Roman villa. This idea was also supported by Helena Frade, who excavated at the site between 1993 and 1994. This archaeologist states that the tower would be the central core of the house of a rich owner, around which there were other structures that supported the villa.
However, for the archaeologist, more important than the legends are the different theories about the functionality of the Centum Cellas tower. In 1874, the historian Pinho Leal attributed the tower's function as a watchtower - a high place from which to watch -, believing that it had been built by King Don Dinis, but that it was originally of Roman foundation. Pinho Leal believed that a small town would have existed around him. Centum Cellas Tower Centum Cellas Tower. By José Antonio Gil Martínez Elisabete Robalo considers that it is very likely that, during the medieval period, the tower was used as a watchtower, possibly at the Cell Phone Number List same time that the church, dedicated to Saint Cornelius, was built, of which remains can also be found at the site. “In fact, the excavations carried out at the site showed that the tower was not an isolated element, there were remains around it, some already destroyed with the construction of the road,” concludes the archaeologist. In 1928, the archaeologist Virgílio Correia reported that the site would have been a sanctuary. For General João de Almeida, in 1945, this would have been the tower where Pope Saint Cornelius was imprisoned, as people believed, hence it was also known as the Tower of Saint Cornelius .
Already in 1962, the archaeologist Adriano Vasco Rodrigues believed that it could be a praetorium (Roman camp) located next to the Roman road. For Elisabete Robalo, this explanation makes a lot of sense, since “Centum Cellas was located near the Roman road that linked Mérida with Braga and milestones were identified nearby.” Centum Cellas Tower Centum Cellas Tower. By Belmonte City Council In 1964, Aurélio Ricardo Belo excavated the site for the first time and observed that the tower was not an isolated building. For the archaeologist, the site would have been a mansio , a type of inn, from the 1st to the 5th century. Years later, in 1990, Vasco Mantas also defended the thesis that it would have been a mansio . As late as 1984, the architect Calais found parallels between the tower and Egyptian and Greek constructions, stating that it was a temple. Already in 1988, the historian and archaeologist Jorge Alarcão believed that it was a Roman villa. This idea was also supported by Helena Frade, who excavated at the site between 1993 and 1994. This archaeologist states that the tower would be the central core of the house of a rich owner, around which there were other structures that supported the villa.