An emblematic landmark of the historical heritage of the municipality of Ansião, the Monumental Complex of Santiago da Guarda shows us a national monument classified in September 1978.
The Manor House of the Counts of Castelo Melhor stands on top of a 4th-5th century Roman Villa (excavated in the 21st century) and includes a 14th century tower, the base of which shows what remains of the medieval tower that formed part of the defence line of Coimbra, south of the Mondego, during the Christian Reconquest.
The Manueline palace, built by Simão de Sousa Ribeiro, features a chapel, windows and doors where you can see elements of this architectural style. Over one of the doors stands a sculpted scallop, evidence of the passage of pilgrims towards Santiago de Compostela, a fact that led to the change in place names.
The profuse amount of Roman remains will captivate the visitor's attention from the very first moment: a large mosaic panel where the region's characteristic landscape is visible through the representation of the oak leaf; an imposing iron railing; a winter triclinium; utilitarian ceramics, of which a pottery pot stands out, showing the continuity of the heritage of the people who inhabited the region in the endogenous products of Sicó.
Related Complementary Offerings
Aldeia da Figueira (shale Village)
