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From Gallaecia to the Euro-Region
Villae of Santomé (Ourense)
Fount of Milho (Peso da Régua)
The presence of agricultural activity is
very evident in some of these villas. In
the one of “Fonte do Milho” in Peso
da Régua, together with the residential
part there is a rustic part where we can
find the first evidence of the viticulture
in Gallaecia, Although the large
dissemination of vineyards came by
the hand of medieval monasteries, the
introduction of the viticulture comes
from the Roman world. Before, the
people from the castros already knew
wine but they did not produce it: it was
a luxury product, imported, to consume
in big celebrations. This villa, dated
from the 3rd century, maintains and
interesting structure where a winery
lathe was working.
The coastal villae used to be linked
to other kind of activities besides the
agricultural ones. In the case of the
salt mines, existing in different areas
of the coast, such as Vigo. In Portugal
the ensemble of the Angeiras beach
(Lavra, Matosinhos) stands out, where
there is a series of excavated tanks
that were used as places of salting
or elaboration of garum, a sauce
with a basis of macerated fish entrails,
very common and appreciated in the
Roman gastronomy. Close to them one
can find another salt mine.
Salt mine (Vigo)
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