Panoias Sanctuary

Vila Real, Portugal

The Panóias Sanctuary, 'Fragas de Panóias', is located in Vale de Nogueiras, in the municipality of Vila Real. Its construction dates back to the end of the 2nd century - early 3rd century AD.

The sanctuary is an enclosure with three large rocks, where several cavities of various sizes were opened and access stairs were also built.

On the rock located at the entrance of the enclosure, several inscriptions were engraved - three in Latin and one in Greek , describing the ritual celebrated, the gods to whom it was dedicated and who it dedicated.

The sanctuary is composed of tanks of different sizes and shapes, votive inscriptions, building foundations, and access steps. Everything was carved in the granitic rocks outcrop.

Today, only three inscriptions remain in Latin and one in Greek. They contain the instructions of the rituals celebrated, the identification of the gods, and who dedicated the site, Gaius C. Calpurnius Rufinus, a member of the senatorial order.

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 2nd century AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Portugal

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Paulo Lopes (10 months ago)
Nice place full of history. It seemed though that there was some lack of maintenance on it and it seems that it's a trend. Not because of the personnel but government aid. Nevertheless the personnel is amicable and super friendly and the sanctuary is small for current standards but huge for those days. It's just amazing the work and perfection of that place. It's not super expensive so definitely recommend anyone to visit it.
Web meister (3 years ago)
Extremely interesting!
Susan Lorraine Knox (5 years ago)
What a day my friends as I had here. We enjoyed the orientation video and the wandered at will around the grounds. Usually I sense the vestiges of the ancient people I. These pre Roman sites. But this was a very quiet place spiritually. We had just returned from the 25th annual mushroom hunt in Mondragao, a visit to the producer of Cleo soaps (got to say hello to their friendly burro herd), stopped in Sandim for a snack and shopping, and our next stop was Mateus Castle, followed by two big band jazz concerts at the annual festival in Guimeraes! Whew! So this site took us way back in history, deep into the history and cultursl base of Portugal.
Susana coutinho (5 years ago)
Roman sanctuary, dedicated to the God Serapis, a must go.
A Scorpio (5 years ago)
Very well organized exhibitions.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Clementinum

The Clementinum is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries, the City Library also being located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. The Technical library and the Municipal library have moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 since 2009. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic.

Its history dates from the existence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican monastery was founded in the medieval period, which was transformed in 1556 to a Jesuit college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an observatory, library, and university by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.